B. R. Ambedkar
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (Marathi: डॉ.भीमराव रामजी आंबेडकर [bʱiːmraːw raːmdʑiː aːmbeːɽkər]; 14 April 1891 — 6 December 1956), also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader, Buddhist activist, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist,historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, revolutionary and a revivalist for Buddhism in India. He was also the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Born into a poor Mahar (then considered an Untouchable caste) family, Ambedkar spent his whole life fighting against social discrimination, the system of Chaturvarna — the categorization of Hindu society into four varnas — and the Hindu caste system. He is also credited with providing a spark for the conversion of hundreds of thousands of untouchables to Theravada Buddhism. Ambedkar was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1990.
Overcoming numerous social and financial obstacles, Ambedkar became one of the first so called “Outcasts” to obtain a college education in India. Eventually earning law degrees and multiple doctorates for his study and research in law, economics and political science from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, Ambedkar gained a reputation as a scholar and practiced law for a few years, later campaigning by publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India’s so-called untouchables. He is regarded as a Bodhisattva by some Indian Buddhists, though he never claimed himself to be a Bodhisattva.[1]
THEBUDDHA AND HIS DHAMMA
by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
The Great Stupa at Sarnath, near Varanasi, is said to mark the site where the Buddha preached his first sermon.
[*EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION*]*AUTHOR’S UNPUBLISHED PREFACE**PROLOGUE*
BOOK ONE: SIDDHARTH GAUTAMA — HOW A BODHISATTA BECAME THE BUDDHA
*Part I — From Birth to Parivraja*
*Part II — Renunciation for Ever*
*Part III — In Search of New Light*
*Part IV — Enlightenment and the Vision of a New Way*
*Part V — The Buddha and His Predecessors*
*Part VI — The Buddha and His Contemporaries*
*Part VII — Comparison and Contrast*BOOK TWO: CAMPAIGN OF CONVERSION
*Part I — Buddha and His Vishad Yoga*
*Part II — The Conversion of the Parivrajakas*
*Part III — Conversion of the High and the Holy*
*Part IV — Call from Home*
*Part V — Campaign for Conversion Resumed*
*Part VI — Conversion of the Low and the Lowly*
*Part VII — Conversion of Women*
*Part VIII — Conversion of the Fallen and the Criminals*BOOK THREE: WHAT THE BUDDHA TAUGHT
*Part I — His Place in His Dhamma*
*Part II — Different Views of the Buddha’s Dhamma*
*Part III — What is Dhamma*
*Part IV — What is Not Dhamma*
*Part V — What is Saddhamma*
BOOK FOUR: RELIGION AND DHAMMA
*Part I — Religion and Dhamma*
*Part II — How Similarities in Terminology Conceal Fundamental Difference*
*Part III — The Buddhist Way of Life*
*Part IV — His Sermons*BOOK FIVE: THE SANGH
*Part I — The Sangh*
*Part II — The Bhikkhu: the Buddha’s Conception of Him*
*Part III — The Duties of the Bhikkhu*
*Part IV — The Bhikkhu and the Laity*
*Part V — Vinaya for the Laity*BOOK SIX: HE AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES
*Part I — His Benefactors*
*Part II — His Enemies*
*Part III — Critics of His Doctrines*
*Part IV — Friends and Admirers*BOOK SEVEN: THE WANDERER’S LAST JOURNEY
*Book Seven, Part I — The Meeting of those Near and Dear*
*Book Seven, Part II — Leaving Vaishali*
*Book Seven, Part III — His End*BOOK EIGHT: THE MAN WHO WAS SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA
*Book Eight, Part I — His Personality*
*Book Eight, Part II — His Humanity*
*Book Eight, Part III — His Likes and Dislikes**EPILOGUE*
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