The Half-closed Eyes of the Buddha and the Slowly Sinking Sun
📖 Answer the following questions
a. How does the tourist describe his initial impression of the Kathmandu valley?
=> Answer: On entering the Kathmandu Valley, the tourist is immediately captivated by its scenic beauty and natural charm. The attractive landscape, fresh fragrance of the soil, and old clay houses decorated in red, yellow, and white leave a lasting impression on her. The calm surroundings and magnificent mountain atmosphere make the valley appear peaceful and enchanting.
b. According to the tourist, why is the West indebted to the East?
=> Answer: The tourist believes that Western civilization has received significant contributions from the East in areas such as culture, religion, art, and civilization. She points to valuable Eastern treasures, including Puranas, brass images, ivory ornaments, palm-leaf manuscripts, copperplate inscriptions, and musical instruments. The spiritual depth and peaceful cultural environment of the East further explain why the West remains attracted to and indebted to it.
c. How does the tourist interpret the gaze of the monks and nuns?
=> Answer: The tourist identifies the way the monks and nuns look at the world as ‘the samyak gaze’. To her, their eyes reflect spiritual purity and an unbiased vision. Their way of seeing is untouched by impurity, prejudice, and discrimination, so they are able to view things in their natural and genuine state.
d. Why do the tourists think Nepali people are wonderful and exceptional?
=> Answer: The tourists find Nepali people remarkable because individuals belonging to different cultural, religious, and social backgrounds manage to share the same society peacefully. Their capacity to respect differences while living together gives Nepalese society a distinctive and admirable character.
e. What are the different kinds of communities in the Kathmandu valley and how do they coexist with each other?
=> Answer: Different groups such as Aryans, non-Aryans, Hindus, and Buddhists inhabit the Kathmandu Valley. Despite their differences in religion, culture, and social identity, these communities have continued to live alongside one another harmoniously. The narrator suggests that the Nepali soil has played an important role in bringing these diverse groups together within a common social setting.
f. What does the tourist feel about the temple of Adinath?
=> Answer: From Chobhar hill, the tourist views the Adinath temple as a striking symbol of Nepalese tolerance. She sees it as evidence of Nepal's openness toward various gods, religions, beliefs, and philosophical traditions. The coexistence of such differences impresses her as an expression of harmony and religious tolerance.
g. Why does the guide take the tourist to the remote village?
=> Answer: The guide wants the tourist to encounter a Nepal that cannot usually be found in ordinary tourist descriptions. Having already seen the country's mountains, scenery, culture, and religious traditions, she is now taken to a remote village to observe the poverty, sickness, hardship, and suffering faced by ordinary people. The guide intends to reveal realities that are commonly overlooked in travel books, stories, and photographs.
h. What does the innocent village couple think of the doctor?
=> Answer: The innocent couple imagines the doctor as their eldest son who has journeyed across the seven seas to bring a treatment capable of restoring their sick son's life. Their reaction reflects their sincere hope, innocence, gratitude, and strong faith in the doctor.
i. What are the differences between the paralyzed child and his sister?
=> Answer: The paralyzed boy is almost completely incapable of physical movement. His body is helpless and inactive, and he is unable to speak, move his hands, chew food, or spit. His body fails to respond normally to the instructions of his brain, leaving his eyes as the clearest indication of life.
His sister presents the opposite condition. She is healthy, lively, and constantly active. She crawls around, handles objects, puts things into her mouth, knocks down the beer, and overturns the cooking stone. Her vigorous behaviour makes the boy's severe physical helplessness even more noticeable.
j. Why does the guide show the instances of poverty to the tourist?
=> Answer: The guide wants to challenge the tourist's attractive but incomplete picture of Nepal. Her attention has so far been focused on the Himalayas, scenery, cultural variety, religious harmony, and peaceful surroundings. By taking her to the farmer's home, he reveals the other side of the country, where poverty, disease, suffering, and difficult living conditions are present. In this way, he helps her understand that the reality of Nepal extends beyond the beautiful image commonly presented to visitors.
🌏 Reference to the Context
a. Which narrative technique is used by the author to tell the story? How is this story different from other stories you have read?
=> Answer: The story is developed through the ‘stream of consciousness technique’, allowing the thoughts and impressions of the characters to become part of the narration.
What makes the story unusual is its presentation of Nepal from two contrasting viewpoints. The foreign tourist is drawn toward the country's natural beauty, cultural heritage, spirituality, and peaceful environment, while the Kathmandu Valley tourist guide directs attention toward the poverty and suffering existing behind that appealing appearance.
By bringing these two perspectives together, the author creates a richer picture of Nepal. The narrative is therefore shaped not merely by outward events but also by the thoughts, feelings, observations, and perceptions of the characters.
b. How is the author able to integrate two fragments of the narration into a unified whole?
=> Answer: The two sections are brought together through their different perspectives on Nepal. At first, the foreign tourist sees the country's mountains, forests, temples, culture, and religious harmony, forming an attractive image of the nation.
The guide gradually makes her aware of another reality by taking her into a village where she encounters poverty, disease, hardship, and deprivation. These experiences expose conditions that are rarely shown in tourist photographs or travel literature.
Consequently, the two apparently different parts complement each other. One reveals the visible beauty of Nepal, while the other uncovers its less visible social reality. Together, they form a fuller and more realistic portrayal of the country.
c. The author brings some historical and legendary references to the story. Collect these references and show their significance in the story.
=> Answer: Various historical, cultural, and legendary elements are woven into the story to deepen its portrayal of Nepal.
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Manjushri and his deed: According to the legend, the Kathmandu Valley was once covered by a lake. Manjushri opened a gorge at Chobhar, through which the water flowed out, leaving the land suitable for settlement. This legend provides a traditional explanation for the formation of the Kathmandu Valley.
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Cultural tradition and handicrafts: The mention of Puranas, brass images, ivory ornaments, palm-leaf manuscripts, copperplate inscriptions, and musical instruments reflects the East's contribution to civilization and illustrates the depth of its cultural, religious, and artistic heritage.
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The gaze of monks and nuns: The expression ‘the samyak gaze’ represents the spiritually pure vision associated with the monks and nuns. It suggests a manner of seeing that is free from prejudice and allows reality to be perceived clearly.
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Historical relationship: The reference to the relationship between Nepal and Tibet during the Licchavi dynasty points to Nepal's long-standing historical and cultural links with neighbouring regions.
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Half-closed eyes of Buddha and the setting sun: The half-closed eyes of Buddha, combined with the image of the slowly sinking sun reflected in them, convey ideas of peace, calmness, love, and harmony. This image reinforces the spiritual and cultural atmosphere that runs throughout the story.
d. The author talks about the eyes in many places: the eyes of the shaven monks and nuns, eyes in the window and door panels, the eyes of the Himalayas, the eyes of the paralyzed boy, the eyes of the welcoming villagers and above all the half-closed eyes of the Buddha. Explain how all the instances of eyes contribute to the overall unity of the story.
=> Answer: The recurring image of eyes provides a strong connecting element throughout the story. Rather than referring only to physical organs, the different eyes symbolize different ways of experiencing and understanding Nepal.
The eyes of the shaven monks and nuns represent ‘samyak gaze’, suggesting spiritual clarity and freedom from prejudice. The eyes carved into windows and door panels reflect Nepalese artistic traditions and architectural culture. The eyes of the Himalayas create an impression of nature silently observing the world around it.
The paralyzed boy's eyes express suffering and helplessness while remaining the most visible evidence that life still exists within him. In contrast, the eyes of the welcoming villagers convey warmth, innocence, hospitality, and human connection.
At the centre of all these images are the half-closed eyes of the Buddha, which suggest peace, harmony, love, and spiritual tranquillity. Through this repeated symbol, the author connects Nepal's natural landscape, cultural heritage, religious life, and human experiences into one unified vision.