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More than two thousand years ago there was a
place where Buddhism flourished on the Silk Road
in Central Asia - Gandhara. It was a Mahayana
Buddhism sacred place, and was said to be the
birthplace of Asanga Bodhisattva, Vasubhanda
Bodhisattva, and Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava.
It is situated in what is now Northwest Pakistan and
East Afghanistan. Gandhara was the meeting point of
ancient Indian and Greek civilisations, so Gandhara
sculpture, architecture and painting are a fusion
of Indian, Persian, and Greek elements, known as
Gandhara art.

YBAM was invited to attend the 2022 International 白沙瓦博物馆是全世界最大的犍陀罗文化博物馆。
Conference and Art Festival for Promoting Social The Peshawar Museum is the largest museum of Gandhara culture in the world.
Cohesion and Interfaith Harmony in Islamabad, the development of Gandhara (Buddhist) art and
Pakistan from 14 to 15 March 2022 to learn about architecture, the role of religion in promoting social
'Buddhism in Pakistan' from the points of history, cohesion and interfaith harmony, and the potential of
archaeology, art, and architecture. In addition to the religious tourism in Pakistan. They were able to gain a
attendance of Muslim citizens and varsity students deeper understanding of Gandhara Buddhist art and
in related fields in majority, the 18 foreign guests architecture, refresh their stereotypes on Pakistan,
included Venerable Zong Ping, YBAM Religious and appreciate the visionary and enlightened spirit
Advisor, Venerable Jue Cheng, YBAM Religious Advisor of the government's efforts in preserving Buddhist
cum Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Singapore, Malaysia, heritage sites and promoting religious tourism.
Thailand, Indonesia, and India, YBAM President Yong
Kuei Yoong, National Council Members Lim Kean After the conference, the organisers arranged a four-
Boon and Khong Fong Jia, and 9 other Malaysia Fo day and three-night visit to the Gandhara Buddhist
Guang Shan nuns and lay devotees. sites. On the first day, the group travelled to Taxila,
the birthplace of Gandhara art, to visit the World
It is worth mentioning that the event was launched Heritage Sites Jaulian Buddhist Complex and Mohra
by Dr. Arif Avi, the President of the Islamic Republic Muradu. In addition to the large and small Buddhist
of Pakistan, which showed the importance that halls, dormitories, dining hall, and storerooms that we
Pakistan placed on this event. The participants have in modern monasteries, both stone monasteries
learnt the propagation of Buddhism in Gandhara, have stupas with carvings of Gandhara Buddha

大队于莫赫拉莫拉都寺院遗址留影。
Group photo at the Mohra Muradu heritage site.

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