Buddha's Teaching on Beginning, Middle, and End Offers Insight into Nepal's Political Cycles

A Pali phrase appears repeatedly in the teachings of Gautama Buddha– “Adi kalyanam, majjhe kalyanam, pariyosana kalyanam” meaning good at the beginning, good in the middle, and good at the end. In Sanskrit, this sentiment echoes as “Adi kalyanam, madhya kalyanam, antya kalyanam.”

At first glance, this phrase might seem like a moral ideal or sermon– pleasant to hear, but detached from reality. In my youth, I too took it as an attractive abstract concept. I didn't think it was a subject that required such deep thought.