Cultural Crossroads Pakistan's Gandhara Heritage

We discovered the first religious place in Meksila and then Buddhism was started here. Yes, exactly. And other side we have discovered some more stupas but there are some monks relics there. So just this stupa inside we have discovered the relics of Buddha. Actually some pieces are in Sri Lanka, some good relics are here in this museum. But this container was gifted by Thai government recently in October of 2021 and now we are installed here the two relics of the Lord Buddha. Charsadda, which name was Post-Kilavati, it was the capital city from 2nd century BC till 1st century AD. It was during Prasanth period that Peshawar became Shahjagirdi regency. Start from the Jataka story of Lord Buddha. So we have 12 Jataka stories reported from Gandhara and 5 we are having here in Peshawar museum. That scene is from Gandhara and that was shifted to Lahore. Then also sir we have other birth scenes like this one, this one is one of the important and famous. This is bathing scene. Next one we have 7 step scene. 7 steps. Like sir the first letter is Sam, Sam means date. Then the other is 20, then 20, then 20, then 20, then 10, then 10, then 1. This is a date, showing date, probably of the king, probably of the scene, probably of the then. Then again some letters are missing, so we call it Harushti and we can decipher, but on paper. And in stone it's a bit difficult, just to get one word. He is sitting and some people are attacking his cousins, Mara, he is attacking Lord Buddha, then various other scenes. It was the first difficulties when he started the preaching, so definitely the people became against to him. We have different scenes showing Buddha, Bodhisattva like Buddha figure, various Buddha figures and other devotees. In 1990s foundation stones were laid by Albert Victor, son of a majesty from Victoria. It took 4 years for the completion of this building. Museum is a museum of art, culture, archaeology and history. We have a very short time, it's a very big museum, it's the biggest and largest museum of Pakistan. I built a temple in Australia and I tried to get things done from stone in the modern world. You couldn't find even giving the Buddha's composition correctly, you can't find artist to do that, it's very difficult. I thought about taking Gandhara to show the Australian people. The thing is, so many South East Asian migrated from 30-40 years before. They are now aging, they want to travel the world. But their interest is not beaches or fancy hotels, they want really just tourism. But the moment, the ring is India, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Unfortunately they think, as accepted is, they don't have any connection to Pakistan. They don't know how to travel it. And our whole purpose is, my one purpose is to take the Buddha's two trilic to their wisdom Gandharian one. And we are trying to work with the government and the private operators to bring the people here. And to show that this is a safe place for people to come and visit. Today I am concluding my four days visit in Pakistan. And first visit to Pakistan. And all these four days, out of my three days I have spent most of the time in museums. One in Takshila, one in Peshawar and one finally in Lahore. And probably many people may have seen what we can do in Pakistan. I am as a Buddhist. Most of the people asking me, what do you have in Pakistan as a Buddhism? But most people what didn't know is, Pakistan has the most richest culture when it comes to the Buddhist civilization. If you remove the Pakistan name, if you call Takshila and Gandhar, I think everyone will, who has some small idea about the history, may know what is Gandhar and Takshila. What we now call that area is Pakistan. And as a Buddhist I have visited several countries. And born in Buddhist country, I have seen so many artifacts. But what I can assure you, what I have seen in Pakistan for the last three days is unmatched for anything what I have seen. And Takshila, I don't know how many people knew, that they are carrying a Buddha's tooth relics. Which is excavated from Dharmarajika stupa, which Ashoka Emperor himself built 2000 years before. And if you ever visit Dharmarajika, you can get an idea how big the Buddhism has spread all over the region. And the next thing I visited is the Peshawar Museum. And whole Gandhar, and I think they have more than 12 sites in there. And the Peshawar Museum carrying one of the largest collection of the Gandhar art. Especially those Buddha statues and other stone works is unmatched. The detail, which has amazed me. And I have spent a lot of time there. And finally, I came to the largest museum in Pakistan, Lahore Museum. Behold, all people may have heard about the fasting Buddha statue, which is now housed in Lahore Museum. After completing my three days visit, what I am saying is, my words are not enough to tell what I have seen in my eyes. And therefore, I am asking everyone, not the Buddhists, whoever likes the art, ancient art or Gandharian art. Please, come and visit Pakistan. And moreover, all these things, the hospitality I got from the people, and the protection. And that is unbelievable. Therefore, please visit and see your eyes, where the Buddhism is spread, how rich culture in Gandharian arts. And therefore, I again, again and again, ask everyone to visit Pakistan. And go to the Gandhar, Takshila, Lahore, all these areas. Seeing your eyes yourself, that miracles. Thank you very much.