Introduction
A particular address was given to the 116th National Management Course attendees at the National School of Public Policy in Lahore. Islamabad, Islamic Republic of, on Friday, September 2, 2022. Blessings to everyone participating in the National School of Public Policy’s 116th National Management Course.
Allow me to introduce myself before we get started. The Pakistani government has invited me through a diplomatic conduit between the Thai and Pakistani foreign affairs ministries. I aim to spend my Rains Retreat in the Gandhara region in Taxila, Punjab Province, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Buddhist code of behavior is being followed.
Understanding Dhamma
Monks must stay in a location appropriate for their status, Dhamma study, and practice throughout the three-month rainy season. This year, it runs from July to October, with an October 10 cutoff. They can attend some events with formal invitations but must return to the house within seven days. I can get from Taxila to the National School of Public Policy.
I admire the Directing Staff’s vision. Mrs. Humaira Zia Mufti visited me at the Taxila Museum, where the Punjab government offered me to live. We had an excellent talk about several subjects, which led to her inviting me to come here and share my experiences looking into the ruins of the Gandhara civilization and the Buddhist World Heritage Site from a Buddhist perspective.
Gandhara Civilization
I’ll share those experiences and the lessons I took away from them with you today. But please do not anticipate me to have much expertise. The subject you’ve chosen is Dhamma: the Buddha’s teachings and Pakistan’s role as the birthplace of the Gandhara Civilization. You can rest; this isn’t going to be a lecture on Buddhism’s teachings, despite some of you possibly considering a course on “Comparative Religion.”
To help you think through the work pattern, I will instead bring up the Dhamma principle of the TRUTH existent in nature that you can independently verify. This principle will also be valuable for developing a body of intellectual knowledge. Therefore, it is evident that Pakistan’s place in this global society should be the birthplace of the Gandhara culture. Before we can think about our part in anything, we must first research and comprehend the subject’s core issues. The topic for today is introduced with the phrase “Dhamma: the teachings of Buddha.” Many of you probably know the fundamentals of the Buddha’s Dhamma teachings, but today’s discussion won’t be about them.
I can tell you in a few words, using Dhamma, that The natural religion of mankind is the one whose teachings help us comprehend life’s nature and grow in our understanding of it so that we might live lives that have the qualities of a noble being. When we live wisely, we may help our lives, our society, and our environment achieve genuine peace and happiness through the Dhamma.
The goal of all humanity is Dhamma peace and pleasure, with religion playing a crucial role. The teachings of the faith must direct followers toward world peace and joy. While a person may aspire for peace and happiness, it should be realized for society, the country, and the world.
Every religion that seeks to spread the Dhamma teaching’s tenets for the genuine peace and pleasure of humanity has this in common. Therefore, we all must comprehend the Dhamma’s guiding principles.
Describe Dhamma. A Buddhist will explain to you right away that the term “Dhamma” refers to Buddha’s teachings. While correct, that response is not the obvious one.
What, then, is Dhamma in Reality?
I’ll offer you the term “Dhamma’s” overall definition. It is the reality that things like birth, aging, illness, and death happen in nature regularly. Every new thing on this planet will have to confront that reality. It is unavoidable.
Dhamma is the law of truth that treats everyone and everything – equally – with the same justice. The Law of Kamma, also known as the Law of Action, is the most essential aspect of this natural reality. The core idea of the Dhamma is the Natural Law truth that is significant for all human groups in this world. I’ll prove the following statement, which may be demonstrated:
Beings in the AU are in control of their behavior. The effects of their acts must be made known to them. All living things are products of their actions and are influenced by them. Whether people take good or immoral actions, they must face the consequences. The Dhamma Principle presented here is THE TRUTH.
The guiding principle for developing knowledge and understanding that is appropriate to the truth of nature is the Dhamma. It allows people to live in harmony with society and the environment without being misled about the truth, which could lead to errors in their bodily, vocal, or mental functions. The Dhamma is about goodness, merit, and creative prosperity for world peace and happiness for all.
The Pali term “Araya,” which signifies noble, and the word “Dhamma” are combined to form the new word “arayadhamma,” which is translated as “civilization.”The meaning alludes to an incredible beauty that mankind should understand. They are so beautiful inside, and their minds are lofty and deserve the title “human.”
According to one definition, civilization is the “culture flourishing of mankind in each time. We refer to civilization as leaving “traces” since it captures every facet of a society’s development over time.
Tourism and Cultural Preservation
We could use its value by examining how civilization relates to our current culture and how to incorporate it into modern living. Education cannot overthrow the refinement of each era, particularly when it possesses a secret force potent enough to affect humanity within that era. Let’s now concentrate on the Indus or Sindhu culture, one of the three prehistoric civilizations, Mesopotamia, and Ancient Egypt that once existed on Earth. They are crucial for understanding the history of humanity in all its forms.
The Indus Civilization contributed so much to Pakistan’s World Heritage that most of its territory is now in Pakistan, with a tiny portion in Afghanistan and India. Indus River runs the entire length of Pakistan, and two significant cities, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, have left behind signs of civilization. They also contain the remains of Buddhist World Heritage, which flourished greatly under King Ashoka’s administration around 269 B.E.
Many jetiyas and mahaviharas were built throughout this great king’s dominion after he converted to Buddhism, and their remnants can still be seen today. King Ashoka was a well-known supporter of the expansion of Buddhism both inside and outside of Jamhudvipa. He invited Majjhantika to lead a party of Buddhist monks in 290 B.C.E. to spread Buddhism throughout the Indus River Basin, focusing on Gandhara and the surrounding areas.
King Ashoka appointed Prince Kunala, the ruler of Magadha, to rule over Taxila and Gandhara in 308 BCE. At the Sirkap World Heritage Site, there is still evidence from this period.
Numerous archaeological relics found in the Taxila Valleys during the third Buddhist century demonstrate the flourishing of the Indus Civilization in Buddhism. Swat and Peshawar. King Kanishka, a lover of Buddhism, led the Kushan Empire during the advancement of Buddhist civilization, which flourished even more from the fifth to the seventh centuries of Buddhism. It started deteriorating in the Tenth Buddhist Century and finally vanished in the Seventeenth Buddhist Century.
During the excavations carried out by the Indian Archaeological Survey more than a century ago, remnants of Buddhist culture that overlapped each phase of Indus civilization were found. Sir led it. John Marshall, whose former home I’m currently staying at for my rainy-day retreat. As I sit down to write the book’s draught every evening. I can sense the true essence of the Indus civilization, especially during the golden age of Buddhism.
The abundance of artifacts in the magnificent museums of Taxila, Peshawar, and Swat has enormous significance for raising people’s spiritual awareness, especially for the more than 30 countries’ worth of Buddhists who want to travel to these places to see the origins of Buddhism. This World Heritage is the priceless spiritual heritage of humanity, and it is located on the Islamic Republic of Pakistan territory.
What can be done about the connection to that World Heritage civilization, and how can Pakistan be defined as the priceless Indus Civilization treasure are just a few of the problems.
As the owners of a nation with global Heritage sites that have such spiritual significance for the entire globe, it is a decision that you must all make. You must take into account the advantages that will result from learning about and appreciating Pakistan’s World Heritage civilization, advantages that will advance humankind, society, and the country.
Advantages of Civilization
With knowledge and comprehension of the following advantages of civilization, the proper role in maintaining the birthplace of culture can be laid out:
1) Make it easier for Pakistani groups and societies to make decisions.
2) Consider the significance of the old land and the intricate civilizations passed down to us, which still have energy that can influence the contemporary movement.
3) Increase knowledge and comprehension of civilization in each era related to society and the nation to assess issues from those eras.
The advancement of the current society will significantly benefit from the body of information.
4) The ability to establish rules for how roles and responsibilities should be carried out by the advantages of this land’s status as the cradle of civilization will increase the potential for national growth in all respects.
These four advantages, the majority of which are ancient Buddhist sites, cannot be realized unless we fully appreciate the significance of the “World Heritage” designation given to the birthplace of civilization. The Buddhist Dhamma principle and the importance of World Heritage culture came first in today’s speech.
Since everyone respects Dhamma peace, a genuine appreciation of these two subjects will be the key to unlocking your treasure of world heritage with Dhamma knowledge and insight. Understanding Dhamma will promote cultural tourism that doesn’t harm the local societies and communities.
Dhamma knowledge and understanding will direct systematic relationship planning, preventing each other from hurting one another, particularly on the spiritual or religious front. When all parties respect one another, understand one another, do not trespass on one another’s space, put one another in danger, or harbor any bad feelings towards one another, then dhamma knowledge and understanding will lead to the development of peace and happiness for humanity.
Without regard to one’s nationality or religion, dhamma knowledge and insight will result in familiarity as excellent friends, the exchange of visits, and loving-kindness for one another. Nothing but learning and understanding, it is believed, can aid in the creation of a peaceful world. Let’s take a look at Nepal as an illustration.
When political upheaval was roiling the nation 30–40 years ago, the Buddha’s birthplace of Lumbini appeared no different from any other rural farmland. However, government initiatives over the past ten years have significantly advanced the development of the historic Buddhist temples, culminating in Lumbini’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2540 BCE.
International monasteries were allowed to be built inside the defined boundaries, which resulted in fast development and the emergence of new communities. Millions of people have now arrived for pilgrimage or sightseeing thanks to the environment’s safety and tranquility. Thailand has the most visitors, with more than one million coming yearly.
With new employment and revenue creation, the tourism industry expanded swiftly, bringing wealth and vitality to the surrounding areas. Significantly, it does not impact local culture, customs, or religious beliefs because visitors are there to honor the birthplace of the Buddha, not to spread their religion through community outreach. With so many people visiting important Buddhist holy sites, India’s tourism industry is expanding in many different areas even faster. The Indian government prioritized the development of tourism associated with Buddhist culture rather than relying on UNESCO financing, which frequently has many restrictions.
Japan provided the first financial assistance to the nation for constructing the infrastructure linking Buddhist historical monuments. The current global development of the Indian push for Buddhist civilization is being carried out through all media and frequently with diplomatic backing.
Pakistan has already demonstrated a growing awareness of the need to create World Heritage-listed Buddhist sites so that they might become a destination for study tours and “religious tourism” of all Buddhists worldwide. An urgent agenda should be created for this, focusing on high-quality travel.
Since Islamic society differs from societies in India and Nepal in terms of character, the impact on local communities and society must be prioritized. The goal of tourism should be to conserve and advance culture and tradition while carefully avoiding conflicts with locals’ religious beliefs. Tourism should be focused on the birthplace of civilization. To move along the Dhamma path, in line with Dhamma, it is essential to publicly and unambiguously identify the appropriate shape and pattern of tourism.
It will be achievable if the government actively promotes awareness of the significance of Pakistan’s World Heritage Civilization among all categories of people, notably government employees.
A clear understanding of “the purpose of developing this cradle of civilization that has become World Heritage” will result in cooperation. We must research and comprehend the value of the national and world asset known as the “cradle of civilization.” This will result in their full and efficient utilization for systematic and orderly benefit under local cultural practice for mutual benefit. Then, we will be able to plan a tourist strategy that complies with the artistic trajectory of modern society while upholding the identity of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Pakistanis must learn about and comprehend the immense value of their civilization, which, like the Indus civilization’s birthplace in the Gandhara Region, has had a profound impact on humanity’s spirit and the world’s society.
Dhamma Diary
This remains Dhamma’s truth, which has never vanished from human perception.
The Buddha said.
Where there is no loving-kindness…
Where there are no relatives
Any place without respect
Any business without education, learning
At that place, the wise should not dwell. Should not be involved!!!”
MV… Arayawangso
Lahore /Punjab Pakistan
4 September 2565 BE
Conclusion
After four days and three nights, from September 1–4, 2565, BE, MV Arayawangso completed yet another of his numerous religious obligations. The spiritual stream of Gandhara, the civilization that has never left human consciousness, is like the raindrops flowing into the roots of various plants, reviving them to be alive and glad.
It waits there for the one natural leader who will reawaken and bring Gandhara’s spirit back to life once more.
The time has come for Gandhara civilization to spring up and shine again, with the sound of the Peace Bell, sending out a signal to awaken every dimension of all beings seeking peace and guiding them to the tranquil state of Nibbana. All civilization’s valleys and river basins are filled with the uplifting melody of Peace with Dhamma.
FAQs
Q1. What is Dhamma, and how is it defined in the context of the address?
Ans. Dhamma is both the teachings of Buddha and the natural reality of life, including the inevitability of birth, aging, illness, and death.
Q2. What contributions did the Gandhara Civilization make to World Heritage, and how did Buddhism influence the region?
Ans. The Gandhara Civilization, primarily in Taxila, saw the flourishing of Buddhism under King Ashoka, with numerous Buddhist sites and relics. It had a profound impact on the region’s heritage.
Q3. How can tourism be balanced with the preservation of local culture, especially in Pakistan’s context?
Ans. Tourism should focus on preserving culture and tradition while respecting local beliefs. Awareness and education play a crucial role in achieving this balance.
Q4. What are the advantages of recognizing and preserving Pakistan’s World Heritage, as mentioned in the address?
Ans. Advantages include informed decision-making, understanding historical eras, fostering national growth, and promoting peaceful coexistence.
Q5. What lessons can be learned from international examples like Lumbini in Nepal and India’s approach to Buddhist culture tourism?
Ans. International examples demonstrate the economic and cultural benefits of preserving heritage while promoting tourism.
Q6. How can Pakistan reawaken the spirit of the Gandhara Civilization in the modern era?
Ans. The Gandhara Civilization can be revived through awareness, education, and a strategic approach to cultural tourism, respecting the nation’s identity and heritage.
Q7. What is Dhamma, and how is it defined in the context of the address?
Ans. Dhamma is both the teachings of Buddha and the natural reality of life, including the inevitability of birth, aging, illness, and death.
Q8. What contributions did the Gandhara Civilization make to World Heritage, and how did Buddhism influence the region?
Ans. The Gandhara Civilization, primarily in Taxila, saw the flourishing of Buddhism under King Ashoka, with numerous Buddhist sites and relics. It had a profound impact on the region’s heritage.
Q9. How can tourism be balanced with the preservation of local culture, especially in Pakistan’s context?
Ans. Tourism should focus on preserving culture and tradition while respecting local beliefs. Awareness and education play a crucial role in achieving this balance.
Q10. As mentioned in the address, what are the advantages of recognizing and preserving Pakistan’s World Heritage?
Ans. Advantages include informed decision-making, understanding historical eras, fostering national growth, and promoting peaceful coexistence.
Q11. What lessons can be learned from international examples like Lumbini in Nepal and India’s approach to Buddhist culture tourism?
Ans. International examples demonstrate the economic and cultural benefits of preserving heritage while promoting tourism.
Q12. How can Pakistan reawaken the spirit of the Gandhara Civilization in the modern era?
Ans. The Gandhara Civilization can be revived through awareness, education, and a strategic approach to cultural tourism, respecting the nation’s identity and heritage.
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