(By Tsem Rinpoche)

“The essence of Buddhism is timeless and universal, but the forms it takes always adapt according to context. The Triratna Bauddha Mahasangha is dedicated to communicating Buddhist truths in ways appropriate to the modern world.”

~Triratna Bauddha Mahasangha

India is a beautiful country, and it is also the birthplace of many great thinkers, philosophers and teachers who have inspired great changes in society. Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar is one such person. Today, he is celebrated as one of India’s greatest visionaries, a social activist and a champion for human rights.

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar is celebrated as one of India’s greatest visionaries and social activists, and a champion for human rights.

He was the driving force in freeing millions of people from the cruel inequality of the caste system. Inspired by Dr Ambedkar, the Nagaloka Centre is dedicated to realising his vision of a society that is free from discrimination and where all have equal rights in line with Buddhist principles.

The best way to achieve this is through education and training based on equality, liberty and fraternity, the principles of Buddhism which became the foundation of Dr Ambedkar’s own teachings.

Today, Nagaloka plays a vital role as a major centre in India’s Buddhist revival. Hundreds of thousands of people from all around the world visit Nagaloka to attend training programmes and conferences.

Creating a New Sangha Community

The Nagaloka Centre’s trustees and staff are associated with the Indian wing of the international Triratna Buddhist Community from the Triratna Bauddha Mahasangha, founded by Urgyen Sangharakshita in 1967.

After Dr Ambedkar’s passing, Sangharakshita (pictured here) continued to build the new Buddhist movement, ensuring its survival and growth in India. Click to enlarge.

Urgyen Sangharakshita was an English Buddhist scholar who lived in India from 1944 to 1964. He was a translator between the East and the West, between the traditional and the modern world, as well as between the principles and practices of Buddhism.

Sangharakshita highlighted the significance of commitment in one’s spiritual life, the importance of a spiritual community, the special connection between religion and art, and the need for a ‘new society’ which supported aspirations and ethics based on Buddhism. As Sangharakshita’s fame grew, Dr Ambedkar took notice of him as well. After Dr Ambedkar’s passing, Sangharakshita continued to build the new Buddhist movement, ensuring its survival and growth in India.

Today the Triratna Bauddha Mahasangha has many Dharma centres for practice and meditation all over India. It gives hundreds of thousands of people access to public programmes, classes and retreats. Ordained members of the Triratna Bauddha Sangha guide the movement to ensure that the right spiritual ideals are preserved.

Location

Nagaloka Centre is located in Nagpur district, Maharashtra state in India (click to enlarge)

Nagaloka Centre is built on a 15-acre land in Nagpur, India. It was established through the efforts of Buddhists in India, China, Taiwan, America and Europe, and built on the principles of compassion and social engagement.

The campus has meditation halls, classrooms, a library, four residential buildings, kitchen facilities and administrative offices. The architecture is based on 2000-year-old Buddhist meeting halls found in India.

A life-sized bronze statue of Dr Ambedkar has been installed within the grounds. There is also a 36-foot tall statue of a walking Buddha, symbolising the progress of Buddhism in India.

History

Dr Ambedkar addresses the crowd at Diksha Bhumi, Nagpur, on October 15, 1956, the day after he and over 400,000 people converted en masse to Buddhism.

Nagpur is the city where it all began. It was here that Dr Ambedkar converted hundreds of thousands of people from the Dalit caste, known as ‘Untouchables’ to Buddhism in 1956. Hence, Nagpur is considered the heart of the Ambedkar movement in India.

In the beginning, the majority of newly-converted Buddhists were from the Mahar Scheduled Caste, Dr Ambedkar’s own caste. The Mahar community represented 10% of the Maharashtrian population.

Between the 1980s and early 1990s, the Triratna Bauddha Mahasangha (TBMSG) sponsored Dharma tours throughout Maharashtra, leading to the establishment of several Dharma centres, two retreat centres and several social projects. A publication wing was set up and today publishes TBMSG’s Buddhayan magazine, which has a circulation of 25,000.

More than 200 million Indians belong to Scheduled Castes and more than 100 million belong to Scheduled Tribes. There was, and still is today, an urgent need for Dharma teachers and leaders to be trained to spread Dr Ambedkar’s teachings and to guide this community towards Dharma. So during the early 1990s, Triratna Bauddha Mahasangha began Dharma activities in Nagpur. They built a large retreat centre called the Venerable Hsuan Tsang Retreat Centre just outside the city. In 1992, when Sangharakshita was visiting India, he proposed that a teaching centre be built outside the city of Nagpur.

The Buddha Surya Vihara Hall was the first building to be built in Nagaloka Centre

Upon hearing this proposed project, two supporters, Dr Yo and Venerable Kuang Shin from Taiwan responded with enthusiasm in taking on this meritorious project. Hence, Nagaloka Centre and the Nagarjuna Institute were developed.

In 1997, the Buddha Surya Vihara Hall became the first building to be erected at the site. In 2002, other facilities such as the training centre, library, classrooms and residential spaces were added and the first training programme was inaugurated.

Since then, more than 600 students from all over India have participated in its courses, and they have formed an all-Indian Dharma supporter and employees network. Many of them teach Dharma and are very active in social work projects to benefit the community. This has all been made possible by the generosity of their kind supporters and friends from around the world.

Dr Ambedkar’s Peaceful Revolution

Dr Ambedkar’s actions changed the lives of millions of Indians, specifically those who suffered from the stigma and oppression of the caste system in India.

The caste system is rooted in India’s society and still exists today. It divides people into thousands of different factions based on a hierarchical system of ‘graded inequality’ which stigmatises people from the time they are born.

There are about 160 to 200 million people in India who belong to the lowest caste called the Dalits, also known as the “Untouchables”, who are considered impure and often perform the lowest kind of work, such as cleaning human waste. They are subject to profound economic exploitation, discrimination, violence and poverty.

A painting depicting Dr Ambedkar and his wife converting to Buddhism (click to enlarge)

According to Human Rights Watch, “India’s Untouchables are relegated to the lowest jobs, and live in constant fear of being publicly humiliated, paraded naked, beaten, and raped with impunity by upper-caste Hindus seeking to keep them in their place. Merely walking through an upper-caste neighbourhood is a life-threatening offence.” (Source: http://www.nagaloka.org)

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar could not ignore the social injustice and caste oppression the “Untouchables” were experiencing. He knew exactly how they felt because he was one of them and he was determined to liberate them from poverty and inequality.

From 1923 to 1956, Dr Ambedkar worked tirelessly as an advocate for human rights in the Indian political system. He was appointed the first Law Minister of a newly-independent India and became the chief author of its Constitution. With this new Constitution, Untouchability became illegal.

Just before his passing in 1956, Dr Ambedkar initiated a wave of mass conversions of Untouchables to Buddhism. He believed in non-violent transformation through the practice and application of Buddha’s teachings as a way to balance personal development with positive social involvement. Today, his Buddhist revolution continues to spread all over India.

Realising their civil rights, the Dalit community is working hard to find ways to improve their living conditions, to live with dignity, free from the oppression of the caste system. Even though they may have limited resources and face many obstacles, they find ways to establish educational programmes, social and health programmes, community centres and hostels all around India.

Nagaloka Campus Facilities

Classrooms and Library

Built in a simple contemporary style, Nagaloka’s classroom building includes meeting rooms, a library and a computer centre. Besides daily classes held by the Nagarjuna Training Institute, the facility is also used for conferences, meetings and training sessions by local as well as international facilitators.

Buddha Surya Vihar Hall

Buddha Surya Vihar Hall was the first building to be built on the grounds. It is used for weekly Dharma classes, lectures, devotional practices and rituals, festivals and Dharma workshops. Inside, a majestic Lord Maitreya statue in the Ajanta style blesses all who visit.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself has visited Nagaloka and many eminent guests have given talks or seminars in this multipurpose hall.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to students at Nagaloka

Residential Halls

The modern residential halls were built for students of Nagaloka but accommodation for visitors is also available.

Adhistan Hall offers accommodation for a maximum of 40 students. The name of this residential hall suggests the finding of a resolution through the practice of Dharma.

Shakyakula was built for student residents as well as special guests who visit the centre to give Dharma talks or teachings. Famous Buddhist teachers who have stayed in Shakyakula include His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hahn. The name ‘Shakyakula’ denotes that irrespective of our different Buddhist traditions, we are all part of Lord Buddha’s (Shakya) community (kula).

Gridhrakut was built in 2009 and it is the newest and biggest dormitory in Nagaloka. The dorm consists of an open space for meditation and a meeting space on the ground floor. Two floors of rooms are used as accommodation for students and faculty.

Sambodhi Parayana Shala

This serene hall, Sambodhi Parayana Shala, was built in 2000 and is perfect for meditation activities. It is also used for special events, weekend meditation workshops, courses, rituals and prayer sessions (pujas).

Paramita Conference Centre

Paramita Conference Centre is a modern residence and meeting hall that was officiated and dedicated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2005. This hall is used for many national and international conferences. It also has comfortable accommodation for up to 50 people. The ground floor is ideal for food services as well as meetings. The Paramita Conference Centre is also available for private rental.

Administration Building

Opened in 2001, this building is called Dhamma Seva Kendra (Administrative block) and it is where the reception centre, administration offices and faculties are located. There is also a small bookstore which sells Buddhist literature.

Statue of Dr Ambedkar

This statue of Dr Ambedkar is made of bronze and it is one of the Centre’s main attractions. It has been visited by hundreds of thousands of people who support Dr Ambedkar’s vision. The statue depicts Dr Ambedkar walking with determination to fulfil a great purpose. His selflessness, kindness and wisdom can be seen clearly on his face.

Walking Buddha

The golden walking Buddha stands 36 feet high and is located at the centre of Nagaloka. The statue was sculpted by Hon. Wen Khwey, a famous sculptor from Taiwan and inaugurated in 2009.

The Buddha is depicted walking with his right hand raised in the Abhaya mudra. This symbolises the removal of obstacles and the great fears of humanity. His fearlessness and confidence can be seen through his stance. His eyes are open, symbolising that he looking compassionately at the world.

The Walking Buddha was Dr Ambedkar’s favourite as it represents the Buddha’s active role in reforming individuals as well as society.

Nagaloka’s Training Programme

Training at Nagarjuna Training Institute (NTI) in Nagaloka allows students to have an opportunity to study the Dharma and to learn new skills that will benefit their communities when they graduate (click to enlarge)

The main focus of Nagaloka Centre is to educate and empower India’s Buddhist youth. At the heart of Nagaloka is the Nagarjuna Training Institute (NTI). NTI offers a one-year residential programme which provides training to a new generation of community leaders and social activists. They come from different Scheduled Castes and Tribes all over India, and they are brought together here in a supportive environment. The training at NTI provides students with a unique opportunity to learn about the Dharma and develop skills that will allow them to benefit their communities. Having Buddhism as a foundation is important because it encourages personal and social transformation.

The students also study Dr Ambedkar’s teachings and experience hands-on training in social activism. They develop confidence in themselves and the confidence in applying Buddhist practices and values.

Students gather for discussions during Nagaloka’s 4th Alumni Conference

However, cooperation between different Scheduled Castes and Tribes is not always easy, even after they have converted to Buddhism. At Nagarjuna Institute, they are taught to relate to each other as Buddhists without any caste labels.

When they return to their homes with this knowledge, they share their experiences with the people of their villages and towns. Gradually, people learn to stop identifying themselves by caste and contribute to a truly democratic society as Indians and Buddhists.

The Nagaloka Alumni Association organises local activities, retreats and lecture tours across 19 states in India. Through these social activities, they contribute to the growth and spread of Buddhism.

A number of ex-students have started their own social projects, such as two hostels in Tamil Nadu for children who were victims of the 2004 Tsunami.

Other Activities

The Nagaloka Centre regularly hosts international conferences and is also a popular venue for Indian Buddhist events and meetings.

One example is a special conference called the “Future of Buddhism – Breaking Caste and Building Sangha” held in October 2009, which Nagaloka jointly sponsored with the Manuski Institute. Manuski Institute shares the same vision and values of liberty, equality and fraternity envisioned by Dr Ambedkar and similar to Nagaloka, they too empower, train and help develop leadership in marginalised communities all over India.

Every Sunday, hundreds of people come to listen to the Dharma talks, which are usually held in the Buddha Surya Vihar shrine room.

Nagaloka also provides facilities for those training to be ordained in the Triratna Bauddha Sangha or those who want to engage in Dharma work and social activities.

Visiting Nagaloka

Nagaloka is open to the public daily and there is no admission fee.

Address: Kamptee Road, next to All India Radio, Bhilgaon, Nagpur, Maharashtra 441001, India
Operating Hours: 6 am to 9 pm
Phone: +91 712 264 2003

How You Can Support Nagaloka

The Nagaloka Centre is one of the most important Buddhist centres in India. It is training a new generation of spiritualists who will spread Dharma and will also work for social equality based on Dr Ambedkar’s vision. Each year, thousands of people come here from all over the globe, including some of the most erudite Buddhist teachers and scholars.

The Nagaloka Centre depends on the kindness of sponsors and donors to operate and continue their mission to serve society. The students of Nagaloka Centre come from extremely poor backgrounds and most of them cannot afford their tuition, room and board. However, they are hardworking and very determined to learn and to play a vital role in spreading Buddhism and changing India.

The Centre’s annual budget is approximately Rs.750,000, which is approximately US$10,500 or RM43,000 (2019). These funds are raised by friends and supporters in India and around the world. Any amount is greatly appreciated as it goes towards the Nagaloka Centre’s great mission.

Donations can be sent to:

India:

Nagarjuna Training Institute
A/C No.: 20108156866
Swift Code: MAHBINBBANGP
Bank of Maharashtra.
Munje Chowk, Sitabuldi,
Nagpur – 440 012, India.

Taiwan:

A/C No.: 117 20 122647
Bank: Hua-Nan Commercial Bank,
Nan-Mem Branch
Beneficiary: (Chou Chung Ming)

United States:

San Francisco Buddhist Center
37 Bartlett Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(510) 526-5906
(Make checks payable to: Friends of the Western Buddhist Order – Bay Area)

United Kingdom:

The Karuna Trust
72, Holloway Road, London, N7 8JG, UK
Tel: 44(0)2077003434
email: info@karuna.org
(Please state that the funds are for NTI)

More Pictures from Nagaloka Centre

Food service at Paramita Conference Centre for casual dining and friendly gatherings (click to enlarge)

Meetings, conferences and meditation courses are held at the Buddha Surya Vihar Hall (click to enlarge)

Students of Nagaloka having a friendly chat while enjoying the evening breeze in front of their residential hall (click to enlarge)

Many people come to pay homage to this peaceful and serene white Buddha at Sambodhi Parayana Shala (click to enlarge)

 

Sources:

• http://www.nagaloka.org/
• http://www.tbmsg.org/

For more interesting information:

• Dr. Ambedkar: Supreme Champion of Human Rights
• Paramahansa Yogananda: The Father of Yoga in the West
• Shirdi Sai Baba: The Wise Indian Saint
• His Holiness Baba Sawan Singh: The Charismatic Sikh Saint
• S. N. Goenka: The 20th Century Authority on Vipassana Meditation
• Anagarika Dharmapala: The Revered Buddhist Revivalist
• Rabindranath Tagore: A beacon for humanity
• Alexandra David-Néel
• H.H. the Great Thirteenth Dalai Lama Thubten Gyatso’s prediction
• Lama Anagarika Govinda: The Pioneer Who Introduced Tibetan Buddhism to the World
• Kazi Dawa Samdup: a Pioneering Translator of Tibetan Buddhist Texts
• Ekai Kawaguchi – Three Years in Tibet
• Agvan Dorjiev: The Diplomat Monk
• Bill Porter (Red Pine): The Translator of Chinese Poems and Promoter of Zen Buddhism
• Herbert Guenther – Master of Languages & Buddhism
• George Roerich – Light of the Morning Star
• Danzan Ravjaa: The Controversial Mongolian Monk
• John Blofeld and His Spiritual Journey
• Professor Garma C.C. Chang – The Illustrious Pioneer
• Incredible Geshe Wangyal

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