Summary of The Half-closed Eyes of the Buddha and the Slowly Sinking Sun by Shankar Lamichhane
The Half-closed Eyes of the Buddha and the Slowly Sinking Sun is an unconventional story presented through interior monologues rather than actions or dialogues. It focuses on two characters: a Nepali tourist guide and a foreign (Western) tourist.
The tourist is deeply impressed by Nepal’s natural beauty, culture, religion, and history. He praises the peaceful hills, ancient traditions, religious tolerance, and the smiling faces of the people. He believes Nepal is a spiritual land protected by the half-closed eyes of the Buddha. He asks the guide to show him some unforgettable “eyes” that truly represent Nepal.
The guide takes the tourist to a poor farmer’s house in a remote village. There, they see a polio-affected child who cannot move or speak. Only the child’s eyes are alive. The guide explains that the child cannot give or take anything and lives in silent suffering.
The guide shows that real Nepal is not only temples and beauty but also pain, poverty, and endurance. He compares the child’s eyes to the setting sun reflected in the half-closed eyes of the Buddha.
Answer the following questions.
a. How does the tourist describe his initial impression of the Kathmandu Valley?
The tourist describes the Kathmandu Valley as green, peaceful, and beautiful. He is impressed by the hills, fields, colorful houses, fresh air, and the calm atmosphere, which give him a feeling of rest and spiritual peace.
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 East has given religion, philosophy, culture, art, wisdom, and civilization to the West without expecting anything in return.
c. How does the tourist interpret the gaze of the monks and nuns?
The tourist interprets their gaze as the samyak gaze, meaning pure perception. He believes it is calm and enlightened, seeing reality without desire or impurity.
d. Why does the tourist think Nepali people are wonderful and exceptional?
The tourist thinks Nepali people are wonderful because of their warm smiles, kindness, hospitality, tolerance, and spiritual depth. He feels their smiles come from the soul and reflect wisdom and humanity.
e. What are the different kinds of communities in the Kathmandu Valley and how do they co-exist?
The Kathmandu Valley has Aryans, non-Aryans, Hindus, and Buddhists. They co-exist peacefully by sharing temples, culture, and traditions with mutual tolerance and harmony.
f. What does the tourist feel about the temple of Adinath?
The tourist feels that the temple of Adinath is a living example of religious tolerance, where Hindu and Buddhist symbols exist together and people worship freely.
g. Why does the guide take the tourist to the remote village?
The guide takes the tourist to show him the real life of ordinary Nepali people, including poverty, suffering, and silent endurance, rather than only cultural and religious beauty.
h. What does the innocent village couple think of the doctor?
The village couple believe the tourist is a doctor who has come to cure their sick child. They trust him completely and look at him with hope, faith, and gratitude.
i. What are the differences between the paralyzed child and his sister?
The paralyzed child cannot move, speak, or act, and only his eyes are alive. His sister is healthy and active. She can crawl, play, learn from experience, feel pain, and express emotions.
j. Why does the guide show instances of poverty to the tourist?
The guide shows poverty to make the tourist realize that Nepal is not only spiritual and beautiful but also full of hardship and suffering. He wants the tourist to see the hidden reality behind romantic ideas about Nepal.
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