The Triratna Story by Vajragupta

The Triratna Story The atmosphere at his lectures was a highly charged mixture of enthusiasm and devotion. Thousands of people attended and would offer him countless marigold and jasmine garlands. Whenever he made a particularly impressive point … the crowds would burst into spontaneous applause and laugh delightedly. Though simple, his lectures were never simplistic ... In whatever he said one could feel that his sole purpose was to communicate the means by which people could transform their lives.46 It was the first of a number of visits that took place through the 1980s and 1990s.

It was obvious to Lokamitra from early on that it wasn’t enough just to teach the Dhamma; they had to also create conditions for a decent human life among the people. A number of Order members arrived from the west to see if they could help: Virabhadra (a doctor), Padmasuri (a nurse), and Vajraketu (who helped set up organizational and administrative structures) began working in the slums of Dapodi, providing basic health care and advice about nutrition. The social wing of TBMSG – known as Bahujan Hitay (‘for the welfare of the many’) – was under way.

The movement started to grow. It is perhaps hard for Westerners to understand the courage required of the first generation of Indian Order members who gave up their ‘conventional’ jobs to come and work for the movement. In a culture without the social security provisions many are used to in the West, giving up a secure job in order to work for a new and unknown Dalit organization was a big risk.

They also had to contend with prejudice, corruption, and caste discrimination. For example, retreat facilities that they had booked would suddenly be double booked once the officials realized they were Ambedkarite Buddhists. Sometimes they were just up against 44