About Us & Lineage
1. Our Lineage & Vision
The Urgyen Sangharakshita Retreat Centre operates under the spiritual guidance of the Triratna Bauddha Mahasangh (formerly known globally as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order – FWBO). Our work is inspired by the life and legacy of Bhante Urgyen Sangharakshita, who dedicated decades to re-establishing a living Buddhist tradition in modern India.
2. Fulfilling Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Vision
Bhante Urgyen Sangharakshita met Dr. B.R. Ambedkar three times during 1956. Following Babasaheb’s sudden passing shortly after the historic mass conversion in Nagpur, Sangharakshita pledged to support the new Buddhist movement in India. Our retreat centre stands as a direct continuation of this pledge, providing the spiritual depth, meditation training, and Dhamma education necessary to fulfill Babasaheb’s vision of a revitalized Buddhist society.
3. The Heritage of Indian Retreat Centres
Our centre holds a distinct place in the history of the movement in India, functioning alongside Saddharma Pradeep Kendra in Bhaja (Lonavala) and Hsuan Tsang Retreat Centre in Bordharan as a dedicated sanctuary for intensive practice and reflection.
4. Spiritual Friendship (Kalyanamitra)
When Ananda asked the Buddha whether spiritual friendship was half of the spiritual life, the Buddha corrected him, stating that spiritual friendship is the whole of the spiritual life. At our centre, we cultivate an environment of mutual trust, cooperation, and genuine friendship where practitioners support one another’s spiritual evolution.