Dharmachari Subhuti

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Dharmachari Subhuti is often regarded as the chief disciple of Sangharakshita, founder of the Western Buddhist Order (WBO) and the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO).

Subhuti was very instrumental in the building of the London Buddhist Centre, which opened in 1978, and helped to raise funds from the Greater London Council for the completion of this task.

His article "Freedom in the Order" [1]explores the relationship between 'positive liberty' and 'negative liberty'. Subhuti describes 'negative liberty' as the freedom to do whatever you want. 'Positive liberty', on the other hand, is something one experiences within oneself, and is akin to being an Individual as described by Sangharakshita. Being inwardly free means having the freedom to make decisions, be spontaneous and act creatively in the moment rather than being subject to conditioning.

Subhuti's books include Sangharakshita: A New Voice in the Buddhist Tradition [2], which explores what Sangharakshita has contributed to the practice of Buddhism and the spread of Buddhism in the West.

In addition to being actively involved in the spread of the Dharma in the West, particularly in Britain, Subhuti spends several months every year working in India with TBMSG, the Indian arm of the FWBO.

The overwhelming majority of TBMSG's members are drawn from the poorest people in India, sometimes referred to as Dalits, called 'untouchables' within Hinduism. The great Dalit leader, Dr. Ambedkar, converted to Buddhism as he believed this was the only way to escape the oppression and discrimination which members of this group suffered. Hundreds of thousands of Dr. Ambedkar's followers subsequently converted to Buddhism, and members of TBMSG are traditionally drawn from these people.

Subhuti's work in India involves spreading the Dharma to all groups and communities within Indian society, be they Hindu, Buddhist or outcast, rich or poor, urban or rural.

To read about some of the work Subhuti and other members of the Western Buddhist Order are doing, welcoming and supporting the people converting to Buddhism from the poorest communities in India, visit [www.ambedkar2006.blogspot.com].