What Does Being A Newa Mean To Me ?

June 23, 1994 - the date I entered the United States. Ever since then I have been thrilled by the idea of meeting people from Nepal. I cross examine myself - "ANYBODY from Nepal?" My desperate answer would be "Yes". Nevertheless, deep in my heart, I am aware of my preference for Newas. But why? What if somebody asks me "what does being a Newa mean to me?"

Let it be known that Newa and Newa Culture are synonymous to strong family bond, politeness and humility. If these qualities are my best attributes, the credit goes to Newa in general. Polished and modified by the time and experience, Newa culture is rich with practical values. While saying this it reminds me of an incident when I was called to see a new born baby's smile. As we were talking, I happened to say how needless it is to pay visits to a new mother (Macha bu: so wanegu) by all relatives with all sorts of dishes. I was thinking it is embarrassing to let everybody know that you gave birth to a baby and besides, sometimes it so happens that all six/seven relatives visit on the same day creating a problem in saving left overs and thus waste of food. (Let's slip this stealthily that this was my early teenage thought.) In response to this, I got a sharp glance and a heart stirring story of her family life in her previous child-birth. She apparently was malnourished by her family members (in a joint family) and was just surviving under extreme conditions. She said, if nobody were to come to visit her, let that be for formality of culture, she thought she would have remained weak and feeble for rest of her life. Though this story might seem unrealistic and abrupt, it did click on the right button on me. I realized how important it is to love and share. I knew they are important, but knew it without feelings and without the knowledge of the real importance of these precious, precious words - LOVE & SHARE.

Believe it or not, this guided my way of thinking ever since then. And remember this knowledge dawned on me from our Newa Culture.

I was born in a humble family of a small farmer where religion is the main core. Although there is no distinct boundary between Hinduism and Buddhism, I followed the path of Buddhism despite of my father being a Hindu. I went through intensive meditation program run by International Meditation Center, Kathmandu. Every other day, we used to have a discussion on meditation. All of us were encouraged to come out with individual opinions and experience. In one of these discussions, one yogi asked which person is the toughest to give love to. After a certain length of discussion the same yogi answered that thieves, robbers, slackers, hypocrites and enemies (khu, dakku, luchcha, chuchcha, hekashi etc.) are the toughest people to love. With this, I realized that - Yeah, all people possess these qualities to certain extent. If I don't learn to love them, I wouldn't be able to love anyone in the world. I need to learn to love people regardless. This is something worthwhile that I learned during the "Love and Compassion Meditation Program". Had I been born elsewhere, e.g.., in Himalayas and remote inaccessible areas or born in a family other than Newa, the chance of acquiring such a useful knowledge would be undoubtedly less.

These are only two of innumerable privileges of being Newa. Along these useful practices, modesty and procrastination fit themselves in niches when favorable. However, it is needless to say that the positive out balances the negative in Newa Culture. Therefore, I can boldly say that I am a Newa and being a Newa means a lot to me.

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