Summary of The Half-Closed Eyes of the Buddha and the Slowly Setting Sun by Shankar Lamichhane | Class XII English Note (Exercise)

Lesson: 6

The Half-Closed Eyes of the Buddha and the Slowly Setting Sun by Shankar Lamichhane

Shankar Lamichhane (1928-1975) was born in Kathmandu but lived with an uncle in Banaras until he was eleven. After receiving some basic education at Trichandra College in the capital, he took his first job at the age of twenty-two and worked for a number of governmental and cultural institutions in Kathmandu. In his later years he became the manager of a handicrafts store.

Summary

The story ‘The Half-Closed Eyes of the Buddha and the Slowly Setting Sun’ is different from conventional stories and, instead of showing actions and events, it records what the two characters think in a stream of consciousness technique. Ironically, it is the Western guest, not the Nepali guide, who sees himself as the expert of this knowledge as he claims he could take the tour guide along his ancient ways.

The tourist describes the beautiful landscape of the Kathmandu Valley. He praises the green valley with its fields, colorful houses, peaceful atmosphere and the welcoming half-closed eyes of the Buddha. According to the tourist, the West is indebted to the East as the Easterners have given them the Puranas, images of brass and ornaments of ivory, manuscripts of palm leaves and inscriptions on copperplate. The Westerners were also given a civilization and its wisdom.

The narrator claims that he has better understanding of the origin of the Kathmandu Valley as he spent many years in the libraries, studying the Nepalese history books. In the valley he sees monks and nuns receiving alms and spreading the law in the nooks and crannies of the Kasthamandap. When one sees the eyes of these shaven-headed monks they cannot meet their gaze. It is called the samyak gaze, the sight that perceives everything in its true form.

The tourists believes that Nepali people are wonderful and exceptional. They live in a house like a temple, but unaware of its beauty. Young artists working in the fields all day and creating beautiful images of their personal deities in their spare time. Nepal is the country where so many different cultures find their home. Aryans, non-Aryans, Hindus, and Buddhists all came and obtained a rebirth here. It must be the effect of the country's soil. The soil that enables all these races to flourish together here.

After the narration of the tourist, the guide and the tourist seem to be in the remote village. In the middle of the village, there stands the temple of Adinath. In the temple courtyard there is a shrine of Shiva, several Buddha images, and many prayer wheels, inscribed Om mani padme hu. It is believed to be a living example of Nepalese tolerance and coexistence.

The tourist guide lies to the innocent village couple that the tourist is a doctor. The couple has two children. The daughter is healthy while their son’s whole body is useless. His eyes are the only living organs of his body and it is only his eyes that indicate that he is actually alive, and hides the end of life. They have faith in the tourist. The guide compares life in the eyes of the child to the setting sun’s reflection in the eyes of the Buddha.

This story is very unusual because it is presented in the form of dialogue between the two narrators. However, the first narrator does not listen to the discourse of the second narrator, and vice versa. The story is set in and around Kathmandu. In fact, the setting of Nepal is the subject of this story.

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. How does the tourist describe his initial impression of the Kathmandu valley?

The tourist describes his initial impression of the Kathmandu valley by praising the green valley with its geometric fields, earthen houses of red, yellow, and white, peaceful atmosphere and the welcoming half-closed eyes of the Buddha.

b. According to the tourist, why is the West indebted to the East?

According to the tourist, the West is indebted to the East because the Easterners have given them their Puranas, images of brass and ornaments of ivory, manuscripts of palm leaves and inscriptions on copperplate. The Westerners were also given a civilization and its wisdom.

c. How does the tourist interpret the gaze of the monks and nuns?

The tourist interprets the gaze of the monks and nuns as the "samyak gaze," a perception that is pure and without contamination. He believes their gaze sees everything in its true form, signifying a level of deep understanding and wisdom.

d. Why do the tourists think Nepali people are wonderful and exceptional?

Tourists think that Nepali people are wonderful and exceptional. They live in a house like a temple. Young artists working in the fields all day and creating beautiful images of their personal deities in their spare time.

e. What are the different kinds of communities in the Kathmandu valley and how do they co-exist with each other?

The different kinds of communities in the Kathmandu valley are Aryans, non-Aryans, Hindus, and Buddhists. They co-exist with each other as the soil enables them to flourish together. (with social harmony and religious tolerance.)

f. What does the tourist feel about the temple of Adinath?

The tourist feels the temple of Adinath is a living example of Nepalese tolerance and coexistence.

g. Why does the guide take the tourist to the remote village?

The guide takes the tourist to the remote village in order to expose the genuine issues faced by the local people there.

h. What does the innocent village couple think of the doctor?

The innocent village couple thinks his coming is preordained (planned by god), so there is intimacy, kindliness, and gratitude in their eyes.

i. What are the differences between the paralyzed child and his sister?

The child's whole body is useless. He cannot speak, move his hands, chew his food, or even spit. His eyes are the only living parts of his body and it is only his eyes that indicate that he is actually alive. On the other hand, his sister’s body functions properly. He watches her as she crawls around, picking up everything she comes across and putting it into her mouth.

j. Why does the guide show the instances of poverty to the tourist?

The guide shows instances of poverty to the tourist to provide a more authentic and comprehensive view of Nepal. Poverty is a significant aspect of the country's reality, and the guide believes that understanding this aspect is essential to gain a deeper appreciation for the resilience and strength of the Nepali people despite their challenges.

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?

The author uses stream of consciousness technique to tell the story. Stream of consciousness is a narrative technique in which a narrator or character’s thoughts and emotions are written in such a way that a reader can track the mental state of these characters. This technique tries to capture a character’s thought process in a realistic way. It’s an interior monologue.

The story is about the monologues of a guide and a tourist. It is different from conventional stories as it lacks a conventional plot. Instead of showing actions and events the story records what the two characters think in a stream of consciousness technique.

b. How is the author able to integrate two fragments of the narration into a unified whole?

The story is presented through the two narrators in the form of monologues. The two narrators are a guide and a tourist. The first narrator, the tourist, narrates the cultural, religious and historical importance of the Kathmandu Valley while the second narration reveals the real picture of the Nepalese society especially in the remote areas of the valley. These two fragments of the narration are integrated as into a unified whole as the entire story is set in around the Kathmandu Valley. The setting of Nepal is actually the subject of this story.

c. The author brings some historical and legendary references in the story. Collect these references and show their significance in the story.

The author mentions some historical and legendary references in the story. The legend about Manjushiri tells us that the valley was filled with water, and a lotus flower bloomed where Swyambhunath now stands. Manjushri struck with his sword at Chobhar and drained away the water to establish a habitable land. Monks and nuns in the nooks and crannies of the Kasthamandap, are believed to have the Samyak gaze, sight that perceives everything in its true form. Another legend is about Princess Bhrikuti who took each and every Nepali item with her when King Amshuvarma sent her off to Tibet. She helped to strengthen the Nepal-Tibet relationship during the Lichchhavi Rule. Half- closed eyes of the Buddha in the stupa are the symbol of the all seeing ability of the Buddha which guards the land. These legends reveal the religious, historical, cultural importance of the Kathmandu Valley.

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.

Eyes helps us to look outward as well as inward into the self. The different eyes mentioned in the story signifies differently. The eyes of the shaven monks and nuns indicate sight that perceives everything in in its true form. The eyes in the window and door panels allow us to look at our culture value. The eyes of the Himalayas represent natural beauty, and our pride. The eyes of paralyzed boy symbolize the ability of endurance and surviving without complaint. The eyes of the welcoming villagers signify hospitality. The half-closed eyes of the Buddha are believed to the all-seeing ability of the Buddha. It is also believed that the land is guarded by the eyes of the Lord Buddha.

In short, the eyes mentioned in the story signify tolerance, coexistence, peace, cultural value, history, and natural beauty. In the story, these qualities are intermingled to contribute the overall unity.