Poverty in Bodhgaya.

Bihar is the poorest state in India, afflicted by decades of corruption and mismanagement. According to recent World Bank figures the annual per capita GDP in Bihar is just US$160. Of the 100 million Biharis, about 40 million live in poverty. Bodhgaya is in the poorest region in this poorest of states.

A June 2011 exposé in the Irish Times highlighted the extraordinary depths of poverty in the villages around Bodhgaya.

One local woman, Bhuyian, was quoted as saying:

"Animals here are better off than human beings in this cursed, holy region," the illiterate Bhuyian said last week of her predominantly lowest-caste village, which is close to Bodh Gaya, the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment 2,555 years ago under a giant tree before going on to propagate Buddhism."

"At least they die with dignity; we don’t even have that luxury," she added matter-of-factly.

It is amidst this poverty and deprivation that Buddhists build their elaborate temples and guest houses for wealthy pilgrims, and hold their elaborate rituals. The Mahabodhi temple is in fact surrounded by extreme poverty, and people constantly on the brink of starvation. After decades of development of facilities for pilgrims, life has changed very little for the people who actually live in our most holy place.

One of the most important aspects of teaching Buddhism to the local people is that it gives them a sense of hope, a sense that things could be different. The fatalistic tenets of Hinduism do not allow them hope - being born into poverty means living an dying in poverty. The inspiring thing about many of the Indian members of the Triratna Order is that they come from just these kinds of backgrounds, and yet have achieved a very different kind of life for themselves. And the practices of Buddhism allow them to develop personal resources and resilience. This is far from sufficient of course, but it is a start.

Please support Buddhavajra and the team to provide hope for the people of Bodhgaya.