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Gandharan Buddhist Texts

Gandharan Buddhist texts are writings that were created a very long time ago by people who followed the Buddhist religion in the region of Gandhara, which is located in what now is northern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan.

Buddhism is a religion that teaches people how to live happy and peaceful lives by following the teachings of a man named Siddhartha Gautama, who lived over 2,500 years ago in what is now Nepal. The Buddhist religion spread across much of the world, including to Gandhara.

The people of Gandhara used a special writing system called Kharosthi to write down their Buddhist teachings. These writings were inscribed on stone, metal, or clay tablets. Sometimes, they were also written on birch bark, which is like the paper of those days.

The writings of the Gandharan Buddhist texts contain stories of the life of the Buddha and his teachings. They also include important Buddhist concepts such as the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. These ideas explain how to find inner peace and happiness by treating others kindly, being honest, and avoiding harmful actions.

Today, we can still read and learn from these ancient texts thanks to archaeologists who found them. By studying these texts, we can learn more about the history and beliefs of the people who lived long ago in the region of Gandhara and the Buddhist religion that they followed.