Wed PRACTICE Night:
Dr Ambedkar - A Modern Bodhisattva

Tonight Tasha will lead an evening celebrating the famous Indian politician and civil-rights proponent Doctor Bhimrao Ambedkar who influenced, and was influenced by, our own teacher Sangharakshita. Our movement is thriving in India, and today, Ambedkar is widely revered by the Indian sangha as a 20th Century Bodhisattva.

Doctor Bhimrao Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956) was a member of the outcastes in India and through a mixture of hard work, skill and good fortune he graduated from the university of Bombay, studied economics at Columbia University and The London School of Economics receiving doctorates in 1927 and 1923. He also trained in the law at Gray's Inn, London.

On his return to India he joined the government and was instrumental in drafting the Indian Constitution when the country received its independence. He was a fierce advocate for the rights of the so-called untouchable castes (now known as Dalits) and when he was unable to secure social reform as part of the government he resigned and became a campaigner for Dalit rights, eventually converting to Buddhism in 1956 and  initiating a mass conversion of nearly half a million Dalits, thus challenging the caste system by renouncing Hinduism in favour of the equality, liberty and brotherhood of Buddhism.

He died shortly afterwards and our own teacher, Sangharakshita, who had known him, was instrumental in helping the new movement to survive and prosper after the death of its leader. Since then millions of Dalits have converted to Buddhism which is now thriving again in India many centuries after its decline.

All over 18 welcome. Newcomers are also very welcome too.

No need to book, just turn up.

The evening is freely given but we would very much appreciate a donation of £6-£12, or whatever you can give, to help cover our costs. York Buddhist Centre depends for its existence almost entirely on donations from those who use it. No one is paid at YBC. Please support us if you can.