Buddha: The Eternal Truth Carved in Stones: Pakistan’s Gandhara Sculpture

Text and photography by Umair Ghani

“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” Thus spoke the Enlightened One. With his eyes lowered to the ground in utter modesty and sublime peacefulness surrounding his emaciated being, he sat cross-legged under the calm Banyan tree. One hand occasionally rising in gentle motion to stress words which flowed with a miraculous ease from his sacred lips. Under the spell of his magical voice, yellow robed disciples gathered all around him, forming an enormous semi circle to gain wisdom and peace from the Awakened One. Siddhartha Gautama enchanted them with his spiritual knowledge and holy presence. “Do not accept what you hear by report,” words flowed from his lips again, “do not accept tradition, do not accept a statement because it is found in our books, nor because it is in accord with your belief, nor because it is the saying of your teacher.” All of them listened attentively, without motion, without blinking.

“Be lamps unto yourselves. Those who, either now or after I am dead, shall rely upon themselves only and not look for assistance to anyone besides themselves, it is they who shall reach the topmost height.”