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Pakistan stresses Buddhism’s peace-fostering potential
March 13, 2019, 12:00 pm
Sri Lanka and the world were given the opportunity of recognizing afresh the peace-fostering potential of Buddhism, thanks to an international forum conducted recently by the High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka.
Titled ‘Buddhist & Gandhara Civilization: The Cultural Nexus Between Pakistan and Sri Lanka’, the seminar was held at the main auditorium of the Buddhist and Pali University at Homagama on March 11. The event was spearheaded by Ven. Senior Prof. Dr. Gallelle Sumanasiri Thero, Vice Chancellor, Buddhist and Pali University and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Dr. Shahid Ahmad Hashmat.
Essentially, the seminar focused on the Gandhara region of Pakistan as a nucleus of Buddhism and its spread in South Asia over the centuries. Gandhara is described as a veritable geographical ‘triangle of about 100 kilometers spanning east to west and 70 kilometers from north to south, on the west of the Indus river. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains. It covers the vast areas of today’s Peshawar valley, the hilly tracts of Swat (Udyana), Buner and the Taxila valley.’
For the observer of international relations the seminar was important as a religious and cultural bridge-building exercise among the countries of South Asia on account of Buddhism’s spread and stabilization across the region, besides the event’s potential to further strengthen Pakistan-Sri Lanka religious and diplomatic links. It is of importance to note that despite Pakistan being an Islamic country, Buddhism has been flourishing over the decades in Gandhara and other regions of Pakistan, where Buddhism has established its hallowed foot print. These facts speak volumes for Pakistan’s religious tolerance and its climate of inter-religious amity.
However, speaker after speaker at the forum very rightly focused on the peace-fostering capability of Buddhism and this emerged as the overall theme of this meeting of minds. Besides, the audience was given a fairly comprehensive knowledge of how Buddhism has profoundly influenced Pakistan’s and the region’s sculpture and architecture over the centuries. Accordingly, Buddhism in Pakistan contains ethical and artistic components that merit thoroughgoing study and research. From this viewpoint too the forum proved immensely useful. It is obligatory on the part of those endowed with researching minds to pursue the lines of investigation thrown up by the seminar.
It needs stressing that Gandhara in general and Taxila in particular is a veritable hive of multi-religiosity and multi-ethnicity and this characteristic has endured over the centuries from the time Buddhism established itself in the region. This was the focus of a presentation made by Brig. Retd. Agha Ahmad Gul, former Vice Chancellor, University of Balochistan. Some of the religions thriving here are, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Greek gods and even paganism, besides Buddhism.
Gul added that Buddhism-inspired architecture in Gandhara and such artefacts found in every nook and corner of region, particularly in stupas. The cultural boundaries of the region, it could be said, remain defined by Buddhism.
Although Gandhara was discovered in the 19th century it came into existence centuries earlier. It suffered several invasions and was eventually captured by Muslim armies. However, Gul stressed that these armies were not ‘Muslim crusaders’ or ‘Islamic rulers’ as wrongly understood today. These invasions were, on the contrary, the result of territorial expansion schemes.
The high point in the presentation made by Director, Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations Dr. Ghani-ur-Rehman was the influence of Buddhism on the artistic creations in ancient Muslim mosques. This was demonstrated graphically. Here too was proof of peaceful religious co-existence in those ages combined with the accommodative spirit of the communities concerned. Besides, the presenter gave his audience some sharp insights into Buddhistic teachings.
In addition to probing and elucidating the finer points of the Buddha doctrine, Prof. Hugh van Skyhawk of the University of Mainz, Germany, demonstrated graphically the degree to which Hellenistic art had beneficially impacted Buddhist art of the Gandhara period. Accordingly, the stress on individuation or the sharp delineation of the features of persons, found in Buddhist art in Gandhara is traceable to Hellenistic art. An interesting part of the presentation pertained to the Mythunya doctrine, its meaning and accompanying art forms.
Prof. Dr. Li Xiguang, Director, Tsinghua, University International Centre for Communication, China was most explicit about the cultural links between China and Pakistan. Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism in China are traceable substantially to Pakistan, he said, to cheerful applause. The Swat valley in Pakistan, it was pointed out, had a strong Buddhist heritage. A striking feature of the art of the region was the humanization of the Buddha.
Director, General (CPEC), Higher Education Commission, Pakistan, Brig. Retd. Dr. Sardar Ali Shah said, after Buddhism took root in Gandhara and Sri Lanka, it spread well beyond its birth place. An interesting point to note is that there are striking similarities between the Avukana Buddha in Sri Lanka and the Bamiyan Buddha. Besides, the Kanishka stupa in Peshawar is the tallest stupa in the world. Further testifying to Gandhara’s Buddhist heritage is the fact there are Buddha relics in numerous of Gandhara stupas.
Thus, the seminar proved a refreshing eye-opener to Pakistan’s strong links through Buddhism to the rest of South Asia and beyond. These are ties that need to be built on and consolidated for the purpose of further establishing regional peace and amity. Buddhism, like Islam, is peace. Let this truth guide South Asia, is our wish.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=200936
March 13, 2019, 12:00 pm
Sri Lanka and the world were given the opportunity of recognizing afresh the peace-fostering potential of Buddhism, thanks to an international forum conducted recently by the High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka.
Titled ‘Buddhist & Gandhara Civilization: The Cultural Nexus Between Pakistan and Sri Lanka’, the seminar was held at the main auditorium of the Buddhist and Pali University at Homagama on March 11. The event was spearheaded by Ven. Senior Prof. Dr. Gallelle Sumanasiri Thero, Vice Chancellor, Buddhist and Pali University and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Dr. Shahid Ahmad Hashmat.
Essentially, the seminar focused on the Gandhara region of Pakistan as a nucleus of Buddhism and its spread in South Asia over the centuries. Gandhara is described as a veritable geographical ‘triangle of about 100 kilometers spanning east to west and 70 kilometers from north to south, on the west of the Indus river. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains. It covers the vast areas of today’s Peshawar valley, the hilly tracts of Swat (Udyana), Buner and the Taxila valley.’
However, speaker after speaker at the forum very rightly focused on the peace-fostering capability of Buddhism and this emerged as the overall theme of this meeting of minds. Besides, the audience was given a fairly comprehensive knowledge of how Buddhism has profoundly influenced Pakistan’s and the region’s sculpture and architecture over the centuries. Accordingly, Buddhism in Pakistan contains ethical and artistic components that merit thoroughgoing study and research. From this viewpoint too the forum proved immensely useful. It is obligatory on the part of those endowed with researching minds to pursue the lines of investigation thrown up by the seminar.
It needs stressing that Gandhara in general and Taxila in particular is a veritable hive of multi-religiosity and multi-ethnicity and this characteristic has endured over the centuries from the time Buddhism established itself in the region. This was the focus of a presentation made by Brig. Retd. Agha Ahmad Gul, former Vice Chancellor, University of Balochistan. Some of the religions thriving here are, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Greek gods and even paganism, besides Buddhism.
Gul added that Buddhism-inspired architecture in Gandhara and such artefacts found in every nook and corner of region, particularly in stupas. The cultural boundaries of the region, it could be said, remain defined by Buddhism.
Although Gandhara was discovered in the 19th century it came into existence centuries earlier. It suffered several invasions and was eventually captured by Muslim armies. However, Gul stressed that these armies were not ‘Muslim crusaders’ or ‘Islamic rulers’ as wrongly understood today. These invasions were, on the contrary, the result of territorial expansion schemes.
The high point in the presentation made by Director, Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations Dr. Ghani-ur-Rehman was the influence of Buddhism on the artistic creations in ancient Muslim mosques. This was demonstrated graphically. Here too was proof of peaceful religious co-existence in those ages combined with the accommodative spirit of the communities concerned. Besides, the presenter gave his audience some sharp insights into Buddhistic teachings.
In addition to probing and elucidating the finer points of the Buddha doctrine, Prof. Hugh van Skyhawk of the University of Mainz, Germany, demonstrated graphically the degree to which Hellenistic art had beneficially impacted Buddhist art of the Gandhara period. Accordingly, the stress on individuation or the sharp delineation of the features of persons, found in Buddhist art in Gandhara is traceable to Hellenistic art. An interesting part of the presentation pertained to the Mythunya doctrine, its meaning and accompanying art forms.
Prof. Dr. Li Xiguang, Director, Tsinghua, University International Centre for Communication, China was most explicit about the cultural links between China and Pakistan. Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism in China are traceable substantially to Pakistan, he said, to cheerful applause. The Swat valley in Pakistan, it was pointed out, had a strong Buddhist heritage. A striking feature of the art of the region was the humanization of the Buddha.
Director, General (CPEC), Higher Education Commission, Pakistan, Brig. Retd. Dr. Sardar Ali Shah said, after Buddhism took root in Gandhara and Sri Lanka, it spread well beyond its birth place. An interesting point to note is that there are striking similarities between the Avukana Buddha in Sri Lanka and the Bamiyan Buddha. Besides, the Kanishka stupa in Peshawar is the tallest stupa in the world. Further testifying to Gandhara’s Buddhist heritage is the fact there are Buddha relics in numerous of Gandhara stupas.
Thus, the seminar proved a refreshing eye-opener to Pakistan’s strong links through Buddhism to the rest of South Asia and beyond. These are ties that need to be built on and consolidated for the purpose of further establishing regional peace and amity. Buddhism, like Islam, is peace. Let this truth guide South Asia, is our wish.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=200936
