Buddhavajra's Birthday

Hi dear jay bhim!

I am fine and happy also.

The 16th of Feb was my birthday, and Nissoka and I gave a talk in Bodhgaya. We gave the talk to people of the Manjhi caste, which is a very, very low caste. They were doing their personal program and no one gave any intention. I thought we should go there and meet them and make friends with them. Because they are my brother and sister! And we went, and gave a talk about Babasaheb [Dr Ambedkar]. They were very happy when they heard my talk. And they promised me they will come to retreat on our land, being lead by Dhammachari Subhuti (starting on the 20th of Feb). Perhaps 10 girls and boys will come.

And this all happen on my birthday so I am very happy. It looks like I am getting my path to work. I want to work with them. I dont know how I will work with them but I have confidence that I will find path.

And thanks to all you sent me lot of good wishes.

jay bhim jay bhim

Buddhavajra

Future Plans

Buddhavajra (receiving a garland, while Nissoka looks on) is originally from Bhusawal in Maharashtra, but moved to live in Bodhgaya in 2009 to spread the Dharma in Bodhgaya. Which may sound strange given that Bodhgaya is one of the busiest pilgrimage centres in the Buddhist world. However little or no attention is paid to local people, many of whom are followers of Dr Ambedkar and nominally Buddhist. Ironically there were no Dharma classes in Hindi in Bodhgaya.

Buddhavajra has ambitious plans for developing the Bodhgaya centre. In India the pattern of Dharma activities is very different from in the West because most of the Buddhists are very poor. What tends to happen is the Order Members start a centre and use it as a base for travelling out to communities, in this case up to 100kms away, to run activities and give talks. So rather than building elaborate temples the Triratna team in Bodhgaya are building networks of friendships.

Dharmacāri Nissoka visits each year from England, and a variety of other people are involved in the centre in different capacities. But Buddhavajra is currently the only full-time Dharmacāri in Bodhgaya.

In order to provide retreats and other programs Buddhavajra has to raise funds.

The average literacy rates in Bihar are some of the worst in India. Typically in these areas literacy is about 47% (according to the 2001 Indian census). However the female literacy rate is about half this at about 26%. Many of the men leave Bihar to find work. In the coming months Buddhavajra plans to visit four villages: Guraru, Sirghati, Kanausi and Hariharpur.

Also coming up

• Dharmacāri Subhutis retreat from 20 feb to 24 feb. It will be for 100 people.
• And in march another retreat only for girls. It will be for 50 girls. This will be a big task as all the girls will have to be collected and delivered home again! It will be lead by Nissoka and Buddhavajra.
• 14 April a big celebration is planned. Dharmacāri Maitranath and will come to Bodhgaya for the event. We will arrange some talks and a one day retreat for local people. However some funding will be required for that. Donations can be given via Buddhavajra's Just Giving page. (a safe and secure way to donate money).
• And of course the Triratna Buddhist Order Convention will be held here in 2013, which will take a huge amount of planning.

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Bodhgaya Community

There are 9 local guys living in the Triratna community in Bodhgaya. For the last month Nissoka and Buddhavajra have being leading study for them on the subject of the ten precepts. They study three time a week.

The community also a do daily meditation, spend time reporting in, and in the evening do a puja under the Bodhi Tree in the temples precincts.

Every Sunday there is a General Dharma class for local people - the only one of it's kind in Bodhgaya.