Retreat

One Day Sit: Dhamma of Love and Justice: Practicing with B.R. Ambedkar as Engaged Buddhists Today

June 27, 2026

9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Location
Boundless Mind Temple
326 Clinton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
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Description

During times of profound instability and confusion, we invite you to encounter Ambedkar through a day of practice. Asking how liberation lives in the breath and posture of the one who sits amidst conditions of war, environmental crises, extreme poverty, racial and caste violence, and the myriad ways our world is alive with suffering. As Ambedkar shared in 1956, “The greatest thing that the Buddha has done is to tell the world that the world cannot be reformed except by the reformation of the mind of humankind and of the mind of the world.”

Dhamma teacher and Buddhist scholar Maitriveer Nagarjuna will guide us in mindfulness practices through sitting and walking meditation, a dharma talk covering B. R. Ambedkar’s approach to engaged Buddhist practice, and group reflection. We will explore ways of grounding ourselves in the present moment and listening deeply to the body’s wisdom.

Join us in an opportunity to nourish your practice, strengthen inner resilience, and find sangha, sharing and exploring our liberatory Buddhist lineages together.

Banner Image: A Digital Artwork Of Ambedkar Holding A Statue Of Buddha by bakeryprasad on Instagram

Schedule

9:30 AM–4:00 PM

Lunch is not provided. There will be a one-hour break — you’re welcome to go out or bring your own. For those who stay in, we’ll share 20 minutes of eating meditation in silence, followed by open time for conversation.

Registration

Fee: $50–$120 sliding scale (Find your rate through our Equitable Pricing Model. If this doesn’t work for you, apply for financial assistance. No one will be turned away due to financial constraints.)

Financial assistance deadline: June 15, 11:59pm ET
Registration deadline: June 22, 11:59pm ET — register below.

Questions? Contact us at info@brooklynzen.org.

Instructor

Maitriveer-Nagarjuna (also known as Santosh Raut) hails from Maharashtra, the heartland of the Ambedkarite Buddhist movement. Both a Dhamma teacher and a scholar of Buddhist Aesthetics and Philosophy, he has long been a thought leader and organizer within broader Asian networks of Engaged Buddhism. Following his doctoral studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Maitriveer joined the EFL University in Hyderabad as an Assistant Professor. He combines this work with his role as the Deputy-Chairman of Nagarjuna Training Institute and the co-founder of The Babasaheb Ambedkar Philosophical Society at Nagaloka in Nagpur. Founded in 1994 near the site where Dr. Ambedkar formally converted to Buddhism in 1956 along with hundreds of thousands of followers, Nagaloka is a major Ambedkarite hub connected to the Triratna Bauddha Mahāsaṅgha (TBM). Maitriveer also co-founded the National Network of Buddhist Youth. For a number of years he has actively supported the Ambedkarite Buddhist movement in Hungary among the Roma, about which a documentary was made. More recently, he has been involved in the design of the Buddhavanam project in Nagarjunasagar, a very large Buddhist Heritage site park. Currently, Maitriveer is a Research Fellow at Harvard Divinity School. He was recently interviewed about Buddhism and Social Justice by the scholar Jon Keune at Michigan State University.

 


Location Details

Boundless Mind Temple is located in the Parish House of Christ Church Cobble Hill, next to 326 Clinton Street. Enter the driveway on Clinton, go past the scaffolding, and through the double doors.

 


Stay Connected with BZC!

  • Subscribe to our mailing list for monthly newsletters and weekly agendas here.
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Donations

BZC relies on donations to sustain its spaces, teachers, and staff. Learn more about supporting us here.

 


Health & Wellness Policy

Our health and wellness policy for all visitors has been updated for our current post-pandemic times while still prioritizing community care.

Please see BZC’s Updated Health & Wellness Policy for more information.

Fee
$50–$120
Questions?
info@brooklynzen.org

To request a refund for this program you must notify BZC in writing at least 2 days before the beginning of the program. This supports the organizing effort involved in managing registrations and cancellations.

We are in an historical building which is not wheelchair accessible. There are two flights of stairs leading to the center, located on the second floor. Chairs, benches, and extra support cushions are available. If you have any additional questions about accessibility, please contact us at info@brooklynzen.org.
One Day Sit: Dhamma of Love and Justice: Practicing with B.R. Ambedkar as Engaged Buddhists Today
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