B.R. Ambedkar and Navayāna Buddhism: Caste, Liberation, & Engaged Practice

This is a structured course rather than a traditional meditation retreat—six weeks of online study focused on B.R. Ambedkar's life, thought, and the movement he founded: Navayāna Buddhism. Ambedkar, an Indian jurist and social reformer, converted to Buddhism in 1956 as a direct response to caste oppression and created a distinct Buddhist path centered on social liberation rather than individual enlightenment.

Dr. Santosh Raut leads the course with rotating guest teachers. Cornel West (philosopher and theologian), Rima Vesely-Flad (Buddhist studies scholar), and William Edelglass (philosophy and Buddhist studies) bring different perspectives on how Ambedkar's vision relates to contemporary engaged practice and social movements.

The center has not yet published a detailed schedule, session format, or what online participation includes. Contact Brooklyn Zen Center directly for information about class frequency, duration, whether recordings are available, or whether this counts as a self-paced course.