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> The students come from some of the most deprived and oppressed situations in India, often with a feeling of no hope whatsoever. After a year of Dhamma practice most feel completely transformed, with a new vision of life, and the Dhamma tools to work on it.

> The confidence in the Dhamma and Dr. Ambedkar’s great vision they develop during the year gives them energy to share what they have learnt with many others in their villages and towns.

> The different Scheduled caste communities in India do not usually cooperate with each other, even after they have become Buddhists. At the Nagarjuna Institute they relate to each other just as Buddhists and not in terms of the caste they have come from. This in itself is an enormous contribution to a truly democratic society. The intensive practice for a year with other Buddhists from all over India means they cease to identify with the old untouchable caste but just as Buddhists.

> The ex-students make up a network covering over 19 states in India. This is the basis for organising local activities, retreats and lecture tours, making a very significant contribution to the development of Buddhism in these States.

> Many have started social projects. A group of the first students started two hostels in Tamil Nadu for children who suffered from the Tsunami.

Buddha statue Inauguration

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar inspired his millions of his followers to become Buddhists in 1956. Despite of his untimely death in the same year, the conversion movement did not stop. As the movement remained leaderless and in the absence of response from the Buddhists abroad, Buddhists in India had less access to teachers and teachings of [...]

Walking Buddha statue

The13th December 2009 is a very special day for Nagaloka. Our 56 foot high walking Buddha statue is being inaugurated. In the coming year it will be a focus for Buddhists from around India and around the world.
We still require Rs.30 lakh (about US$ 65,000) to pay for the statue. Please help by donating generously. [...]

Nagaloka is situated on a 15 acres campus just outside Nagpur on the Kamptee road. Nagaloka is designed as a Buddhist training centre and a centre for interaction between the Buddhists all over India and Buddhist abroad. Nagpur has become the centre of the modern Indian Buddhist movement after Dr. B. R. Ambedkar converted there [...]

>> Basic Buddhist teachings and practices, including meditation, Puja, and morality.

>> The teaching is grounded in the basic teachings of the Nikayas/Agamas, but with an emphasis on the Bodhisattva ideal.

>> How to conduct basic Buddhist ceremonies; Dr. Ambedkar’s approach to Buddhism and how it relates to his other work

>> The social situation in India, know how to establish a small social project and how to work in calamities and other situations in which Scheduled Castes and others suffer discrimination

All this takes place within a life of community living and work.

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Nagarjuna Training Institute

Benefits of the Nagarjuna Training Institute (NTI) courses

Buddha statue Inauguration

Walking Buddha statue

Nagaloka

Admissions opens for 2009-2010

Training content