ISLAMABAD: Chief Monk of Thailand, Arayawangso, who is set to complete his three-month rain retreat (mid-July to mid-October) at Taxila, views Pakistan as a land with plenty of Buddhist sites, symbols and stupas, and therefore an ideal destination for Buddhist tourism.
This is the land where Buddhism flourished after the passing away of Gautama Buddha, he said, adding that people, particularly monks, from all over the world came here to attain wisdom and peace.
This is the first time in Pakistan’s history that a Buddhist leader of his calibre — along with disciples and 15 Buddhists — are performing an important Buddhist ritual in the country.
This is Arayawangso’s second visit to the country.
Earlier, he visited the country in October 2019 and performed meditation and rituals at the Dharmarajika Stupa, the largest and the most sacred of all the stupas, which according to the Buddhist scriptures, contains fragments of Buddha’s bones.
According to Arayawangso, after his October 2019 visit, he had decided to spend the following year’s (2020) rain retreat in Taxila, but then Covid-19 hit the world and the visit was postponed.
A promise fulfilled
During his 2019 visit, he installed two “bells of peace” in the nation; one at Taxila Museum and the other at Peshawar. “I came to Pakistan not only to perform [the] rain retreat but also to fulfil a promise made with my friend, late Prince Miangul Adnan Aurangzeb, who had requested for a similar bell of peace [like the one put up in Dharmarajika Stupa] to be installed in Swat,” said Arayawangso recalling his meeting with the former Member of National Assembly during his first trip to Pakistan.
Sadly, four-and-half-months before Arayawangso’s visit, Aurangzeb passed away. ”His sudden death left all of us heart-broken. After his arrival in July, the MV [Arayawangso] visited Swat, installed a bell and also prayed at Adnan’s grave,” said Imran Shaukat, who is close to both Arayawangso and the Aurangzeb family.
Explore the potential of Khyber Pass
Arayawangso said he visited a number of Buddhist and historical sites, particularly, the Khyber Pass. Through Khyber Pass, the Buddhist monks travelled to Afghanistan and beyond. In a way, it is the door to civilisation, he said.
Pakistan, he said, had plenty of sites and cities, which if maintained and marketed well would not only attract the Buddhists from all over the world but would also generate huge revenues.
During the three months spent in the British archaeologist John Marshall’s residence Arayawangso not only addressed his disciples through live sermons, he also compiled a book of 15 chapters Buddhist Civilization in Gandhara. “The book is not merely about archaeology or history. It is also about the spiritual journey and gives an insight to the readers and tells them about the rich Gandhara Civilisation,” said Arayawangso.
Relics of Buddha buried under Dharmarajika Stupa
“After Buddha passed away, this was the place where Buddhism flourished,” said the chief monk pleading with scholars and historians to visit the place and learn why King Ashoka built Dharmarajika Stupa over the relics of Buddha here in the 3rd century BC.
Sound of peace
“The world needs to listen to the sound of peace in this part of the world and I can foresee growing Buddhist tourism in the coming days and months,” said the chief monk.
He expressed his gratitude to the Pakistani and the Thailand governments, ambassadors of the two countries, the Punjab government, the tourism department as well as local officials for taking care of his delegation and making the stay comfortable.
“I will spread the message of peace in Pakistan and will tell the world about it,” he said.
Arayawangso is completing the rain retreat on October 12 and a ceremony will be organised to mark the occasion.
According to Buddhism when the three-month rains retreat comes to an end, Buddhists gather to express their joyful appreciation (anumodhana) and celebrate this auspicious moment by offering the Kathina Civara (different items including robes) to the monks who remained steadfast during the period.
What is Rain Retreat?
According to Buddhism, Buddha asked his followers to spend the wet season (rainy months) in meditation and prayers in one residence.
In Pakistan and in India as well usually rains last from July to October. Monks and nuns are to avoid travelling and spend this period in prayers mostly indoors.
Though the original need to stay in one residence during the rainy season may not be of much relevance today, it is still obligatory for the ordained monks and nuns to continue the practice.
Limited exposure to the outside world
They can continue with their normal activities including going out on alms rounds and to attend to the devotees but, they cannot stay out overnight.
For the year 2022, Arayawangso chose the residence of Sir John Marshall the British archaeologist who more than a century ago supervised all the excavations around the area and discovered the place was once the centre of Buddhist civilisation.
