Introduction
As I previously indicated, Miangul Aurangzeb called me to erect the Bell of Peace for Swat’s good fortune in 2019. I ended up at the Swat Valley, a Pakistani Buddhist World Heritage site. Under the Buddhist Vinaya, I wanted to take sattahaya to place the Bell of Peace, constructed in 2019, when I arrived to spend a vassa in Taxila1 in 2022.
Miangul Adnan Aurangzeb, who died in a car accident on May 30, 2022, sent the original invitation. When we contacted his family, they sent a signed invitation from Miangul Aurangzeb’s wife to confirm the invitation.
Background and Purpose of the Bell of Peace
Thus, the Bell of Peace Celebration was held in the homeland of the early Buddhist civilization to ask for the Dhamma’s ability to bring about world peace. The King of Thailand’s birthday fell on the lucky day of July 28, 2022. The Swat people (as well as the Aurangzeb family) had been waiting for the third Bell of Peace for the past two to three years, and it was eventually dedicated. Even if Miangul Adnan is no longer with us, the heart-to-heart ties still exist and must be upheld to fulfill his wish. For Pakistanis to continue to nourish such Sacca-Dhamma in their spirits, it must be transmitted to the Swat Valley’s future generations. To humanity, peace is of utmost importance.
Only the Dhamma’s power— derived from those who respect, adhere to, and worship the Dhamma—can bring about peace. They must uphold moral standards, which are fundamental virtues all religions share. Since everyone is treated equally by the laws of karma and the power of the Dhamma, there won’t be any conflict if all religions work to bring about peace for humanity.
Preparations and Uposatha Observance
1. The Punjab State of Pakistan, a portion of ancient Gandhara
2. Sacca-Dhamma is Sanskrit for “life’s Truth.” Here, it alludes to the serenity that results from realizing things for what they are, according to nature. Peace can have several levels and meanings depending on how one defines it. We are not referring to ‘peace within’ in the traditional or everyday sense. Understanding the reality of life and enabling loving kindness and compassion to develop in the mind are necessary for inner serenity. It results from an appreciation of fact as it is.
3. The three traits of impermanence, stress, and not-self combine to form the force of the dhamma. In terms of nature, it speaks of what is ‘proper.’ This insight brings wisdom. One does not live in opposition to the nature of things when they have the correct understanding.
4. Respecting the Dhamma is the same as respecting nature’s law, which states that things begin, exist, and eventually vanish. Things’ emergence and extinction demonstrate their transience, stress, and non-self.
Bell of Peace Inauguration Ceremony
As was already indicated, the third inauguration of the Bell of Peace took place on July 28, 2022, the day on which Thais celebrated their King’s birthday. Additionally, it was Uposatha Observance Day, when four or more monks gathered in a monastery once every fifteen days to recite the 227 Patimokkhas (rules). In the Swat Valley, which had been the home to a Buddhist civilization for more than 2000 years, three occurrences had never occurred in one day.
I could spend three more nights in the Swat Museum starting July 27. I spent two nights there. On the morning of July 28, 2022, I prayed for a ceremony to go off without a hitch and to be weather-free. It was the rainy season then; thus, there was some precipitation in the Swat Valley. The current of the Suvastu (Swat) River was also strong.
(Note: On August 27, 2022, a month after this work was completed, there was catastrophic flooding in the Swat River Valley. There was devastating destruction and tragic loss of life as torrents of water poured from the mountain, breaching banks and destroying houses and lands in the valley.)
At that time, Swat Valley was often damp and ideal for growing crops. On both sides of the roads we passed, villagers had set out their fruits for sale. What a beautiful sight! According to Faxian, Swat Valley was renowned for its abundant flowers and fruits.
Messages of Peace and Unity
At the Swat Museum, the monks gathered to reaffirm their commitment to the Dhamma practice. On the morning of July 28, 2022, we decided to designate the Swat Museum’s central courtyard, where we can see the sky and the earth in the same space as an Uposatha region. All the monks gave their sadhu (approvals) when a monk read the training regulations. It was the first time such a tradition had been revived in a millennium. The four monks’ names are as follows:
1. MV Arayawangso presided over the Sangha gathering.
2. Participation by Ven. Nikhom Nitidhammo
3. Ven recited the Patimokkha. Warintorn Apasaro.
4. Participation by Ven. Piyatip Piyadhammo
Samanera (novice) Phusana was shooting pictures to post on social media and was watching over all the monks. Despite some precipitation, the monks’ assembly to hear the 227 Patimokkha precepts went off without a hitch. It was fantastic and energizing, almost like holy water being sprinkled. The hour-long religious rite was completed just before 6:30 a.m. The monks then returned to their lodging at Miangul Aurangzeb’s house, 15 minutes from the Swat Museum, to collect alms and sanghathana.
We all assembled in front of the Bell of Peace at the Swat Museum after supper at the apartment. Seeing the Thai and Pakistani flags next to each other made me happy. There were several tiny tables with flowers and incense sticks in front of the majestic image of King Vajiraklaochaoyuhua. There were yellow and white buntings all over the place. A group made all of the decorations of Thai people and staff from the Thai Embassy. The Army. Col. Adisak Showichen, the defense attaché, led the Thai citizens to swear allegiance to the King on behalf of the Thai ambassador.
Following that, they performed the national anthems of Pakistan and Thailand, to which the crowd chanted. Seeing them treat one another as kin was a lovely and tranquil sight. They discovered that their love, caring, and good wishes for one another knew no religious boundaries.
In front of the Pakistani attendees and the media, MV Arayawangso recited the address from Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana (Amborn Mahathera), the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, to bless King Vajiraklaochaoyuhua on his birthday.
It was time to ring the Bell of Peace, which the Swat people had anticipated since 8:30 a.m. From Swat, Pakistan, MV Arayawangso delivered an introductory address to spread messages of peace throughout all spheres. This was live-streamed throughout the globe. It was an extremely fortunate occurrence.
Post-Ceremony Plans
The following is the message of a chant for peace:
May everything be joyful.
May they never experience pain.
May there be no hostility between them?
May they be free from resentment and malice.
May they never experience mental distress.
I hope they are content in both body and mind. The lecture was delivered by Most Venerable Arayawangso, who was stress-free, healthy, and safe.
From Swat, Pakistan, Most Venerable Arayawangsoring rings the Bell of Peace to send messages of peace to all dimensions.
The bell rang clearly to signal the conclusion of the event. I gave Imran Shauket three more opportunities to ring the Bell of Peace. As the ceremony ended, we thanked everyone who helped plan the event, especially the Aurangzeb family. Photos of the group came next.
There were broad smiles and joy all around. Everyone appeared happy because this was an auspicious celebration in Pakistan’s homeland, including the journalists there. It conveyed a message to the rest of the world that Pakistan is prepared to receive tourists from 32 different countries, particularly Buddhists, to the revered Buddhist World Heritage sites in Gandhara, which are essential to both Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike in terms of their spiritual significance. The world was informed by the Bell of Peace that:
In the home of the Gandhara civilization, there is tranquility. The Buddhist World Heritage Sites in Pakistan are ready to welcome everybody from any nation as if they were family.
Following the ceremony, every monk returned to Taxila, where they committed to completing their rain retreat and preparing for their next journey to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s capital and largest city is Peshawar. It is the fifth-largest city in Pakistan and is situated in the Peshawar Valley to the east of the historic Khyber Pass on the Afghan border. The areas north of Jambudvipa are included in Peshawar, historically known as Purushapura.
Conclusion
The name was subsequently changed to Peshawar. According to the writings of a Chinese monk named Faxian, the trek from south of Gandhara to Purushapura took the group of monks four days. He added that the Buddha and his disciples visited this location. Ven. The Blessed One informed Ananda that after his death, Kanishka, a king, would erect a stupa to honor the Buddha.
Using metta to bless
The eyes that can speak are the window of the mind.
My heart is suppressing so many disclosures.
Too profound and challenging to communicate.
Since things have been said so frequently,
Yet be so challenging to comprehend.
FAQs
Q1. Why was the Bell of Peace erected in Swat, Pakistan?
Ans. The Bell of Peace was erected in Swat to promote world peace and uphold the Dhamma’s ability to bring peace.
Q2. What were the unique circumstances surrounding the Bell of Peace Inauguration ceremony on July 28, 2022?
Ans. The ceremony coincided with Thais celebrating their King’s birthday and Uposatha Observance Day, making it a rare and significant event in Swat.
Q3. What was the significance of reviving the tradition of monks gathering for the 227 Patimokkha precepts?
Ans. It marked the revival of a thousand-year-old tradition and emphasized the commitment to the Dhamma practice.
Q4. What messages were spread during the Bell of Peace Inauguration ceremony?
Ans. The ceremony conveyed messages of peace, unity, and the importance of upholding moral standards shared by all religions.
Q5. What positive message did the event convey for Pakistan’s tourism and spiritual significance?
Ans. The event conveyed a message of peace and readiness to welcome tourists, particularly Buddhists, to Pakistan’s revered Buddhist World Heritage sites.
Q6. What historical significance does Peshawar hold, and what was its historical name?
Ans. Peshawar, historically known as Purushapura, holds significance as the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and was visited by the Buddha and his disciples. It is where King Kanishka was prophesied to erect a stupa in honor of the Buddha.
Q7. What is the significance of the metta (loving-kindness) blessing mentioned at the end of the content?
Ans. Metta is a Buddhist concept emphasizing compassion and goodwill. The blessing signifies the importance of spreading love and kindness as a means of inner serenity and understanding reality.
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