I dream of October 16th 2013

As any Ambedkarite Buddhist knows, Dalit caste or Scheduled Tribe or from whatever background, the 16th October is the anniversary of the largest religious conversation to have taken place on any day in history. I dearly hope and plan to celebrate it with you in 2013 at the Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur, the place of the 1956 conversion and the taking of these 22 vows:
....(Wikipedia)
Luckily, some (more enlightened) Westerners are learning that Gandhi was not the saviour of the "untouchables" as they presume:
http://baynvc.blogspot.com/2012/02/gandhi-and-dalit-controversy-limits-of.html

Please do not despise Dr Ambedkar for his challenges to that old sacred cow, Mr Gandhi; and if you consider him a saint how do you know that he was really a mahatma?

(NB I've Dr Ambedkar's life & influence I have briefly summarised on http://doctorambedkar.blogspot.com he man who wrote, amongst a life rising from the "untouchables" to become the "architect & father of the constitution" of the Independent India; a role which it is said that Gandhi could see no other person in India being capable of fulfilling. Gandhi was able to support Dr Ambedkar at times, yet to go on hunger strike because of Dr Ambedkar's request for a separate electorate to empower the "depressed classes" was a tough challenge for Dr Ambedkar as leader of the Dalits. He gave in to Gandhi on this occasion and six weeks before his sudden death led 400,000 Dalits out of "the hell of caste" by leading a mass conversion to Buddhism in the central city of Nagpur on 14th October 1956.
Hundreds of thousands of other Dalits escaped the shackles of being part of the Hindu religion, which was inextricable from the caste system, by converting to Buddhism.
Generating a social system that fully respects all regardless of birth is still an ongoing struggle across the world, but perhaps in no country more than in India.


THE FULL MOVIE (English Version) of the Life of Dr Ambedkar, part-funded by the government
of the state of Maharashtra (the most 'progressive' state in India?)


And to make the difference, please absorb the current opportunities to support self-reliance projects among the Dalits via the Karuna Trust.

Dr Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism continues to inspire many, as I saw in 2010/2011 in the state of Maharashtra, India & nowhere did I get a greater sense of potential being unleashed with only a little more support needed from the West now as at Nagaloka (The Nagarjuna Training Institute): http://nagaloka-dream-cycle.blogspot.com

Most students recorded their Visions (Dreams) in Hindi -and their films will have subtitles added.
The passion and determination to bring compassionate action to their localities is very evident.

Arya talks about Naxilism amongst other things

Click on a name below to see any of other Men's recordings:
Ajit
Bishnu
Bhagwan (in English)
Bhijay (in English and in Hindi)
Hemlal
Kamal
Nikass (in English and in Chakma, with translation text provided)
Raj Shakya
Sujeet (with a translator speaking the English after the Hindi) 

Women Students:
Prema
Pratigya
Prayenka
Seema
Soni
Sonya


As Buddhists at Nagaloka we resolve to live by the five precepts (training Principles).
Before chanting the five precepts, Buddhists usually renew their 'going for refuge':

Here are these five precepts chanted in Hindi:


The Five Precepts:
1. Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.
2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.
3. Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.
4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.
5. Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.
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Contact the "Ethical Outings in Hastings" drama creators, tour creators & blog creators (Mediation Support Ltd & associates - e.g. St Leonards Sharing Consortium)
- via this contact form: Here


Sangharakshita, my teacher, gave me much to turn over in my mind about how the power relationship has changed and my task is to imagine how he suffered in his life; all this from my visit to him -plus some discussion about KMs and "The Walking Buddhas of SE England" in Hastings, a project with the potential to be as significant (or more!) as "The Angel of the North":

http://youtu.be/giunG-6bqmI


http://youtu.be/ZoAURxQK9dw