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TAXILA: A 76-year-old Japanese Buddhist monk has appealed to monks and followers of Buddhism across the world to gather at Pakistan’s ancient Dharmarajika Stupa in Taxila for a collective prayer for global peace, saying the teachings of the Buddha that once spread from the historic centre of Gandhara should again inspire humanity at a time of growing global conflict.
Speaking to journalists after offering prayers for peace at the nearly 2,000-year-old Dharmarajika Stupa, Japanese monk Junsei Terasawa said the world was passing through a period marked by conflicts, violence and human suffering, making the Buddha’s timeless message of compassion, non-violence and reconciliation more relevant than ever.
“The message of peace was raised from Taxila and flourished across the globe, and today, when the world is once again facing conflict and uncertainty, that message must rise again from this sacred land,” Monk Terasawa expressed.
Japanese Buddhist monk Junsei Terasawa San celebrated the enduring legacy of peace, harmony, and interfaith understanding on a month-long pilgrimage across Pakistan, visiting some of the country’s most significant Buddhist heritage sites. His spiritual journey has taken him to ancient stupas and monastic complexes in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the renowned archaeological remains in the Swat Valley, where he offered prayers and reflected on the enduring legacy of the Buddha’s teachings.
