Nepal is an independent kingdom that lies 500 miles along the Himalayas. It is surrounded by Tibet and India. Nepal is divided into three sections: the northern snow mountains, the middle hilly region, and the southern terai. <br /> <br />Nepal has almost 20 million people and a variety of ethnic groups. Most people speak Nepali and some speak English. Indo-Aryan immigrants originally settled Nepal in the 7th century B.C. Many tribes succeeded one another, until the Malla period, when three kingdoms were created: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapar. Recently a system of parliamentary democracy was established. <br /> <br />Buddhism in Nepal dates from the birth of Siddharta Gautama himself. Legend has it that many bodhisattvas and previous Buddhas also visited the land. <br />Monuments to these Buddhas can still be seen. Early Buddhist history is difficult to document, but we know that Nepal became a great meeting point for Indian and Tibetan Buddhist teachers. Nagarjuna, the great Madhyamika master, and many other great practitioners visited, lived, and taught in Nepal. <br />Stone inscriptions and colophons provide clear evidence that a strong lineage of Mahasanghika Bhiksunis existed in the seventh century. The country became a repository of Buddhist Sanskrit literature and famous for its production of fine Buddhist art. <br />- website: http://hoasenphat.com <br />Original credit: <br />+ Heart Sutra by Lama Khenpo Pema Choephel Rinpoche <br />- Uploaded by Buddhism UK on 5/26/2014 <br />+ Faces of Nepal - Uploaded by Jeremy Snell on 1/15/2014 <br />+ Nepal, Land of High Mountains and Buddhist Temples - Uploaded by Marty Mellway on 8/5/2011 <br />+ Nepal Buddhist Monasteries - Uploaded by TingSern Wong on 1/18/2009
