Pakistan: Buddhist chief monk, disciples arrive in Taxila for 3-month ‘rain retreat’

ISLAMABAD: The Arayawangso monk of Thailand, Arayawangso, along with a delegation of monks and disciples started a three-month ‘rain retreat’ or vassa (from mid-July to mid-October) at Dharmarajika stupa in Taxila, home to ancient Buddhist civilization.

The delegation comprises five monks, one novice (a trainee monk) and 15 disciples.

During his October 2019 visit to Taxila, His Holiness Arayawangso took a fancy to this land of rich Buddhist heritage and decided to return for the retreat, an annual tradition in Buddhism.

However, that could not materialiae because of COVID-19 and after the travel curbs eased and a committee of senior monks approved, he is back to the land which according to the Buddhist history, was once considered ‘centre of wisdom and peace’ and the Buddhist monks from all over the world came here in quest of knowledge and enlightenment.

Dhamma Day sermon

According to the organiser and host of the trip, Imran Shaukat, on Wednesday, the Arayawangso led Asadha Puja on Dhamma Daydelivered a three-hour sermon that was broadcast live all over the world.

In Buddhism, on this day, Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon in Deer Park at Sarnath, 10-km from Varanasi, after his enlightenment. This year Asadha Puja was observed on July 13.

In his sermon, the Arayawangso urged the people of the world to live in peace and harmony and sacrifice their worldly desires for the ultimate good of humanity.

Once in a millennium event

Imran Shaukat who has been actively pursuing the cause of interfaith harmony in the country by promoting religious tourism and was instrumental in organicing the previous as well as the current visit of His Holiness, said for the first time in a millennium a monk of his stature is spending Rain Retreat in Taxila. This would help introduce these Buddhist sites to the outer world and showcase Pakistan’s soft image to the world, he said.

We need to promote Pakistan as a peaceful place where believers of all faiths and followers of all religions live in perfect harmony, said Imran.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmed and Director General (DG) East Asia Pacific (EAP) Aamer Atozai received the Arayawangso at the Taxila Museum which will remain a base camp of Arayawangso during his retreat and from here, he will be broadcasting live all his prayers, research and sermons. He is inviting Buddhists from all over the world to come to this land of wisdom and enlightenment.

High profile delegation

In the Arayawangso’s delegation are members of Thai royalty, a retired general, Thailand’s Ambassador to Norway and many other dignitaries.

After his 2019 visit, the Arayawangso wrote a short book which he plans to present to President Dr Arif Alvi. In the upcoming three months, besides research and meditation, he will write a detailed book for the world to know and understand the placement of Gandhara in the Buddhist world.

During his visit to the Taxila Museum, His Holiness drew a number of comparisons in the artifacts put on display there and remarked that the landscape of some paintings reminded him of Ajanta Caves of India.

Unesco World Heritage Site

Dharmarajika Stupa is one of the Unesco World Heritage Sites. It is also referred to as the Great Stupa of Taxila and dates back to the 2nd century.

It is believed that it was built to house small bone fragments of the Lord Buddha. During his visit, the Chief Monk of Buddhists of Thailand said, “I am confident that from now onwards, Buddhists from around the world will be looking forward to visiting this beautiful country of Pakistan.”