1 May 2026, Kathmandu
The Third International Zen Literature Symposium has concluded, organized by Jara Foundation Nepal in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 29. The symposium was held on Friday at the auditorium of the Nepal Tourism Board in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, under the chairmanship of Krishna Prasai, President of Jara Foundation Nepal.
The chief guest of the event was poet, litterateur, and cultural scholar C.P. Bhattarai—recipient of India’s Sahitya Akademi Award and press advisor to the Honorable Chief Minister of Sikkim, P.S. Golay. Anila Lhundup Tenzin attended as the special guest.
The program saw participation from poets representing Germany, Thailand, Burma, Bhutan, the United Kingdom, India, Dubai, Canada, and Nepal. The visiting poets also recited their works. Jara Foundation Nepal had announced a call for Zen poems until 29 Magh 2082, receiving a total of 149 submissions from within and outside the country. Among these, fifteen outstanding poems were selected.
The fifteen selected poets included Indu Bhattarai, Kishan Paudel, Govinda Pratik, Govinda Subedi, Dilip Shrestha, P.R. Bhattarai, Mohit Joshi, Raju Ubarkoti, Sandhya Maharjan, Suraj Parajuli, Goma Shrestha, Sandhya Maharjan, Dosti Regmi, Pushpa Khanal, and Satyajit. Among the top fifteen, Suraj Parajuli secured first place, Goma Shrestha second, and Mohit Joshi third. The winners were awarded cash prizes of NPR 25,000, NPR 20,000, and NPR 15,000 respectively, along with certificates and tokens of appreciation.
The three-member jury panel consisted of poet and essayist Momila Joshi, critic and essayist Professor Kumari Lama, and Zen expert Dr. Indraman Joshi.
Guest poets who presented their works included Pushpa Sharma (Sikkim), Kim J. Baaden (Germany), Divya Maurya (Thailand), Rooney Adhikari (Burma), Kailash Nepal (UK), Tumbehang Limbu (Bhutan), Aseem Sagar, and Prajwal Adhikari. The significance of the program was explained by Mahesh Paudyal.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Bhattarai emphasized that there is no alternative but to engage the younger generation of creators and guide them as carriers of art and literature. He also noted that the Sikkim government and Pari Prakashan, with which he is associated, have been continuing youth-centered initiatives and encouragement programs.
Special guest Anila Lhundup Tenzin remarked that while Zen shares many similarities with Mahayana philosophy, it emphasizes experiential and immediate knowledge as the basis of enlightenment. She stated, “Zen incorporates ideas from Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, and values immediate experience over scriptural authority as the foundation of knowledge.”
Zen expert Dr. Indraman Subba presented an audiovisual lecture outlining the fundamental principles of Zen philosophy and creativity. His conclusion was that Zen does not accept lengthy explanations, analysis, or argument; rather, it is a doctrine of expressing knowledge grounded in direct experience. Chairperson Krishna Prasai also shared that his understanding of Zen aligns with this emphasis on intuition, adding that his interest in Zen developed through his association with Zen masters from Nepal and abroad.
The program, which included a welcome speech by poet and artist Narendra Bahadur Shrestha, was hosted by Prajwal Adhikari and Srijana Sharma.
