Dharmachari Subhuti
Encyclopedia
Dharmachari Subhuti, originally Alex Kennedy, is a senior associate of Sangharakshita
, founder of the Triratna Buddhist Community (formerly the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO)). He has held various positions of leadership and has been instrumental in many developments in the community.
Subhuti was influential in the building of the London Buddhist Centre
, which opened in 1978, and he helped to raise funds from the Greater London Council
for its completion. He developed training for men preparing to be ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order at the Padmaloka retreat centre, near Norwich in England. He also helped to found Guhyaloka, a retreat centre in Spain, where men make final preparations to become members of the order.
As well as being involved in the spread of the Dharma
in the West, particularly in Britain, Subhuti is said to spend several months each year working with the community's Indian wing, the Triratna Bauddha Mahāsaṅgha (TBM).
Most of TBM's members are drawn from the poorest people in India, sometimes referred to as Dalit
s, or so-called 'untouchables'. The late Dalit leader, Dr. Ambedkar
, converted to Buddhism, saying it was necessary to escape the oppression and discrimination which this group experienced. Hundreds of thousands of Dr Ambedkar's followers subsequently converted to Buddhism.
In recent years Subhuti has expressed differences of opinion with Sangharakshita over some aspects of their interpretations of the Dharma. He has also voiced concerns over the potentially exploitative circumstances of some of Sangharakshita's past sexual relationships.
In his book Buddhism and Friendship, Subhuti explores what he believes friendship can offer. He argues that, in the past, friendships were considered to be important relationships, whereas now, romantic relationships have taken the preeminent place which friendship once occupied.
He argues that friendship is an element in the Buddhist path to enlightenment, and continues afterwards. He gives as examples the Anirhuddins, three young men who had a close friendship which endured even after they had all attained enlightenment. Another example he gives is of the Buddha himself, whose relationship with Ananda lasted for the last 20 years.
Sangharakshita
Sangharakshita is a Buddhist teacher and writer, and founder of the Triratna Buddhist Community, which was known until 2010 as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, or FWBO....
, founder of the Triratna Buddhist Community (formerly the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO)). He has held various positions of leadership and has been instrumental in many developments in the community.
Subhuti was influential in the building of the London Buddhist Centre
London Buddhist Centre
The London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green, East London, is the main London base of the Triratna Buddhist Community, formerly known as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order. It opened in 1978, and is located in an ornate, vernacular redbrick Victorian fire station, completed in 1888, and in...
, which opened in 1978, and he helped to raise funds from the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
for its completion. He developed training for men preparing to be ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order at the Padmaloka retreat centre, near Norwich in England. He also helped to found Guhyaloka, a retreat centre in Spain, where men make final preparations to become members of the order.
As well as being involved in the spread of the Dharma
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
in the West, particularly in Britain, Subhuti is said to spend several months each year working with the community's Indian wing, the Triratna Bauddha Mahāsaṅgha (TBM).
Most of TBM's members are drawn from the poorest people in India, sometimes referred to as Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
s, or so-called 'untouchables'. The late Dalit leader, Dr. Ambedkar
B. R. Ambedkar
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar , popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, a revolutionary and one of the founding fathers of independent India. He was also the Chairman...
, converted to Buddhism, saying it was necessary to escape the oppression and discrimination which this group experienced. Hundreds of thousands of Dr Ambedkar's followers subsequently converted to Buddhism.
In recent years Subhuti has expressed differences of opinion with Sangharakshita over some aspects of their interpretations of the Dharma. He has also voiced concerns over the potentially exploitative circumstances of some of Sangharakshita's past sexual relationships.
Published works
Subhuti's books include Sangharakshita: A New Voice in the Buddhist Tradition, which explores what Sangharakshita has contributed to the practice of Buddhism and the spread of Buddhism in the West. He has also published three other books, "The Buddhist Vision" (an introductory book on Buddhism), "Bringing Buddhism to the West" (a short biography on Sangharakshita), "Buddhism for Today", "Women, men, and angels", and "Buddhism and Friendship".In his book Buddhism and Friendship, Subhuti explores what he believes friendship can offer. He argues that, in the past, friendships were considered to be important relationships, whereas now, romantic relationships have taken the preeminent place which friendship once occupied.
He argues that friendship is an element in the Buddhist path to enlightenment, and continues afterwards. He gives as examples the Anirhuddins, three young men who had a close friendship which endured even after they had all attained enlightenment. Another example he gives is of the Buddha himself, whose relationship with Ananda lasted for the last 20 years.
External links
- Subhuti's own website
- "The awakening of the west" - Google Books
- "The Middle way, Volumes 61-62" - Google Books
- "Revival of Buddhism is not hostile to Hinduism: Kalon Tripa" - Phayul
- "Buddhism for today : a portrait of a new Buddhist movement" - National Library of Australia
- "An old net for new monsters" - National Library of Australia