THANK YOU!

Dear Friend,

As I write I am very aware that this is another tough time for Bhante. Since late August he's been feelingvery weak and poorly, and his life is lived very much in the narrow confines of the Urgyen Annexe atAdhisthana with a small team of carers and secretaries. It's a while since he's received visitors, writtenletters or felt able to participate in the life of our movement.

Hardly surprising you might think for a man of 91. True, until you reflect that even in early August he was stillreceiving visitors, engaging with the life of the Order through personal correspondence, enjoying conversationswith Saddhanandi about his poetry, and generating thousands of words in a new literary venture.

So let's hope this period of ill health is a passing one. But meanwhile, as our recent appeal for extra fundinghas underlined, the time has come when Bhante is clearly moving into a new phase, one in which he willneed an increasing level of care, and more access to qualified help from nurses and doctors. Let's try tokeep him as comfortable as possible, however things progress.

Meanwhile, thank you so much for the financial support you are giving. It is hugely appreciated and, I canassure you, very carefully deployed.

FROM UDDIYANA'S TRUSTEES NAGABODHI

A Literary Surprise: Back in the summer 2015, Paramartha left Adhisthana for New Zealand where he wasto spend several months caring for his termally ill mother. This lengthy separation from a close friendand companion inspired Bhante to initiate a correspondence which, with Suvajra's secretarial help, somehowtransformed over the months into a 30,000-word set of 'reveries-cum-reminiscences' which will in timebe published in print and online.

This outburst of literary activity began as a communication from one friend to another, an expression ofgratitude to Paramartha for his support around a particularly difficult time when Bhante moved fromMadhyamaloka to Adhisthana while suffering from particularly bad health. But the reminiscences soonstarted to flow from earlier times, taking on a life and purpose of their own, apart from the correspondencewith Paramartha (which continued on its own track): childhood memories of his father and grandfather,friends in Bombay, encounters back at the Hampstead Buddhist Vihara, his friendships with Mark Dunlopand Terry Delamere, and more besides. The section headings are intriguing: Colin Wilson Revisited,Alternative Lives, Remembering Alaya, What Might Have Been, The Young Man in the Hut....

A bout of ill health has brought this bout of creativity to an end, but who knows what will emerge next timeBhante's health and energy return, as we hope they will. Suvajra, his willing scribe, is standing by, readyto catch the next flow of reminiscences and reveries.

Progress on the Complete Works Project: ‘Really we should have started this twenty years ago,’ Bhantesaid, as we talked about preparing to publish his Complete Works. If we’d done that, I know he would haveloved to have been involved in every detail, after a life of writing and also publishing, ever since the dayswhen he used to check the inky galley proofs of Stepping-Stones supplied by the printer in Darjeeling.

Now that we have at last begun, as editors of the series, Kalyanaprabha and I are attempting a balancebetween consulting Bhante only when we need to and involving him as much as his energy level allows;it’s so valuable to ask him about things while we have the chance, and we sense that he still enjoys beingcreatively involved when he can. He has provided crucial clues to the whereabouts of references (‘TryShantarakshita’s Tattvasangraha'), cast his mind back to remember the details of events long ago (whywas the teacher he describes in his memoirs called ‘Smoky Joe’?), and reminded us of changes he hadwanted to make to some volumes (for example the restoration of text cut on legal advice: ‘The advice costme nearly £1,000 but I learnt a little about the law of libel!’)

The publication of his Complete Works is top of the list of Bhante’s priorities for his literary executors, andhas been made possible by the generosity of all those who responded to the appeal on his 90th birthday.Just over a year later, the first volume, looking substantial and beautiful in Dhammarati’s elegant design(and also very nifty in the digital equivalent) has appeared. It includes Ambedkar and Buddhism and also36 of the (previously unpublished) talks Bhante gave during a tour of India in the winter of 1981/2.Thesetalks breathe the atmosphere of the occasions on which they were first given, from the rapt crowdsgathered in their thousands to hear life-changing words to the local community squeezed into the tinyshrine room they had made with their own hands to signify and support their commitment to Buddhism.While the talks are steeped in their context, they also transcend it; they are full of wisdom and inspirationenough to help anyone anywhere who is trying to live a Dharma life. It seems fitting that this volume, whichwas produced with the welcome help of over 30 volunteers, was the first of the 27-volume series to bepublished, its launch in October 2016 marking the 60th anniversary of Dr Ambedkar’s conversion.

Those of us involved in the project each have our own sense of why it’s important, and we are aiming tocombine our priorities creatively. For me it’s about gathering together this body of work, organising it welland doing whatever we can to make it accessible to people in the future, and also now, who may neverknow Bhante, but will benefit from his clear vision and expression of the Dharma. That, after all, has beenthe whole point of his life’s work – not to express himself, but through his words to help us appreciate theBuddha’s teachings. To this end my special interests are the revision of notes and the addition of manynew ones, so that the canonical sources are clear, and the creation of a ‘concordance’ to help readersthrough the forest of words, to find whatever treasure they need to find.

A LITERARY SURPRISE& PROGRESS ON COMPLETE WORKS VIDYADEVI

Adhisthana Dharma Training Course for Men

Sangharakshita Library Team

Adhisthana Dharma Training Course for Women Members of the Adhisthana community

‘Just imagine, in a few years time someone might be interviewing you about interviewing Saddhanandiabout interviewing me!’ This was Bhante's response on hearing that I was planning to talk to Saddhanandi,the chair of Adhisthana, about their latest project: a series of interviews based on his poems. This followson from the success and popularity of their last series of interviews for the ‘Nine Decades’ exhibition(http://tinyurl.com/nine-objects), in which each interview captured a decade of Sangharakshita’s life throughthe prism of a set of objects chosen by him.

I could sense a blossoming friendship between them, an intimacy and ease, a mutual delight in the qualityof their communication. And I felt the significance of the two of them working together, creating a resourcefor the future to enable people who will not have met Bhante to have a kind of contact with him, to draw onhis inspiration. Here's what Saddhanandi had to say:

'I originally imagined that our conversations about the poems would serve as catalysts for a broaderconversation. Sometimes they are, but sometimes we're talking about the poem itself. Bhante might bepointing out something about the form of the poem which I haven't noticed, or trying to get me to understandsomething I haven't interpreted in the way it was intended. It's like he is teaching me at that point. Thereare several layers to our conversation, and having now talked together quite a bit I know now I'll be relaxedenough to think beyond my pre-planned questions once we're together. He is very relaxed too, though stillvery astute and dynamic in communication.

TALKING ABOUTPOEMS AKASAJOTI

'Talking with him I get a sense of how knowledgeable he is – in areas of politics, literature, poetry, culture,current affairs – all sorts of things. When we were talking about 'The Bodhisattva's Reply' he talked aboutsimilar instances in India that are in the news even now.

'I also get a sense of how very intuitively he functions. Sometimes he won't know why he has written apoem, but you get a sense that perhaps a conversation, a meditation experience, or just a moment, has'struck' him and he’s written a poem as a response to the experience. It's a way of capturing something inthat moment, but when you look back at it 40 years later it might not be obvious what stimulated it, whatwas the catalyst.

'The poems give content to our conversations, but really the poems are helping us get to know each otherever better. We’re having conversations around the poems which touch on who we are as people. WhenI meet him, I am in service, and I can see that he is in service too. He serves me to serve the Dharma andI serve him to serve the Dharma – it’s interestingly mutual. I think because of my work at Adhisthana heabsolutely wants to serve me to do that work well, but for me to do it well means bringing his influenceinto the place and serving him well. We meet like two people doing the same job, and I can sense we’reboth serving something bigger when we’re serving each other.'

The interviews will soon be available online at https://thebuddhistcentre.com

Saddhanandi in conversation with Sangharakshita Saddhanandi in conversation with Akasajoti

VISITORS FROM INDIASUMEGHA, ARYADITYA& JNANAVAJRI

In August nearly seventy Indian Order members visited Adhisthana for the conventions. A major highlight wasthe opportunity to see and meet Bhante. Here, three of them tell what this meant for them.

SumeghaLike all the Indian Dhammacharinis I was so eager to meet Bhante and to take his darshan. Thanks to himI have devoted myself to his mission and my Dhamma life.

As soon as I arrived at Adhisthana, Vidyadharini told me where Bhante was sitting and I went straight overto salute him. Back in India, just a month before, I'd had a dream in which Bhante was wearing the verysame clothes he was wearing now! He raised his hand and I felt I was receiving his blessings.

Throughout our stay we saw Bhante almost every day. But, more than that, there was such an atmosphereat Adhisthana, an aura of Bhante's presence. I could also feel the deep influence of the many Ordermembers who practise the Dhamma there.

AryadityaWhen I think of seeing Bhante, heartfelt gratitude and tears of joy come to my eyes. My daughter hadpainted a beautiful picture of Buddha as a gift for him. Suvajra passed it on to him, and told me the nextday that Bhante liked it very much and sent blessings to my daughter and family. I am so moved by Bhante’scare and touching connection with me and my family. I feel my purpose in visiting the UK was fulfilled byseeing him. When Bhante loudly said the words, 'Jai Bhim! Jai Bhim! Jai Bhim!' I felt that Babasaheb’swork is spreading all over the world, and I have confidence that our community is taking Dr Ambedkar’smovement forward.

JnanavajriOn our way to Adhisthana I felt I was returning to my parents' home! I was to meet a Bodhisattva, a greatman, the father of our Sangha. As soon as our coach entered the grounds of Adhisthana we cheeredDr Ambedkar’s and Bhante’s names.

One morning, when I heard that Bhante was sitting near the pond with Suvajra, I felt heartfelt devotionand rushed out to see him. He was sitting on the bench and his head was down as he talked with Suvajra.I watched from behind, moving as close as felt right.

Seeing him walk outside, Bhante looked tired but his face was bright and shining. He was walking withsomeone's help, his shoulder a little bent. Knowing that a large number of Indian Dhammacharinis werevisiting, he would sit on the bench so we could take his darshan. One day, Suvajra took a photograph of usall with him. 26th August was Bhante’s birthday. All of us Indian Dhammacharinis looked attractive in ourblue saris. Bhante’s birthday was celebrated in the shrine hall and we had special Puja. We sent gifts tohim and, from a little distance took photos of him where he sat in his blue shirt.

I met many Order members from different countries and spoke with them in my broken English. Because wewere talking from our hearts we could understand each other. On our last day I felt I was leaving some old andbeloved friends. Many of us cried. I saluted the shrine, Adhisthana, Bhante’s kuti and all my dear friends.

Adhisthana’s memory will be in my mind forever and my commitment to the Three Jewels is now evenfirmer. My gratitude to Bhante and the Triratna Sangha which he has founded for the sake of the world isvery strong in my heart.

Z2015 2014

INCOME

InterestDonations from Individuals Royalties

TOTAL INCOME

EXPENDITURE

DIRECT CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE

Bhante Personal SupportRent/Food (Bhante & Companion)Bhante's Car & other travelLiterary AssistantCarers & Secretary's Support and Travel Library Rent and PurchasesOther Charitable DonationsFuneral preparations

TOTAL

CHARITY OVERHEADS

Office Rent, Admin and Accountancy InsuranceEquipment and Furniture Depreciation

TOTAL

TOTAL EXPENDITURE

SURPLUS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE

CASH HELD AT 31 DECEMBER 2014

1. This figure includes £100,333 90th birthday appeal for Collected Works and also funding translations.2. Editor's support for Collected Works - from 90th birthday funds.3. Grant for translations - from 90th birthday funds.

48643,261

14

43,760

3,33815,0782,725156

12,683 24

2,850

36,854

6,4362,6513,029975

13,091

49,945

(6,185)

94,545

488145,516

13

146,016

3,64817,1903,1474,76716,029

121,600

0

46,392

6,7662,765265975

10,771

57,162

88,854

180,816

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

Registred Charity No: 1046398; Design Alokavira; Photographs © Suvajra, Alokavira and others.

Triratna Buddhist Community(Uddiyana)Birmingham Buddhist Centre11 Park Road Moseley, Birmingham B13 8ABUnited Kingdom

For more information, please contact Shantavira at:

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