Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. 

This is in memory of my friend Ansulkumar, a member of the Western Buddhist Order/Trailokya Bauddha Mahasangha.  Ansulkumar was tragically killed in a road accident on the 19th June 2007.  He was 33 years old and left behind two daughters and his wife.

I would like to raise money which will be donated in his name to projects working in India with tribal people, of which he was one.  He became a Buddhist and was working to introduce more of his people to Buddhism.  You can see why from his life story, reproduced below, told to me some five years before he died..  If necessary some will also be given to his widow.  Please read on to learn more about him and also the very tragic circumstances of his death.

Thank you. Please donate generously.

Lokabandhu

PS - Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to donate: FWBO (Dhammaloka) will receive your money electronically and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in Gift Aid will be added to your donation at no cost to you.
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Ansulkumar's life story -

I was born in Bihar on December 12th, 1969. My people were from the tribal Adiwasi caste, and were Hindus, not followers of Dr. Ambedkar. However some people said that we were ancient followers of Buddha. I had three brothers and a baby sister. Economic conditions were very bad, and when I was two years old I left home because my mother's brother took responsibility for me. When I was still a child we went to live in Wardha, near Nagpur, in Maharastra. My aunt (his wife) was kind to me, but he later came to own some land but did not want me to inherit it. She would tell me stories of the Sants, Indian poet-yogis such as Tukaram, and I wanted to go and meditate in the jungle.

I was very interested in the siddhis. She took me to a temple where one lived, Vikktu Baba by name. There was a Buddha statue in his temple. From then on I had a little connection with Buddha and Babasaheb Ambedkar. Many people said he was mad, as he was always practising bad speech and abusing people who came to take his darshan. He would say, do not take darshan, go for Refuge! Greedy people came there wanting blessings and land and children. However he asked me very kindly, how are you? I met him many times and he was always kind. When I was ten years old my auntie had a child of her own. The next time we visited Vikktu Baba a strange thing happened. My uncle had given him an invitation to the naming ceremony, and he had agreed to come. In the middle of the night I saw a very big bright bullock, shining very brightly. It was larger than life, but it was not a dream. Then it disappeared and was replaced by a snake. Other people then saw a big dog, like a tiger. The next day my uncle asked Vikktu Baba why he had not come to the naming ceremony - but he said he had! After her son was born my auntie gave me less love.

I became very naughty. I was thirteen years old and began to steal and pickpocket. My uncle became fed up and said the time had come for me to leave and go and look after my parents. They came and took me back to Bihar. Conditions there were very bad. I had been studying in Marathi language, but in Bihar there was only Hindi and I could not speak it. When I was fourteen I was working in a shop, then a hotel, then an iron factory and then a circus, but I was paid only 70 rupees per month. Sometimes there was no food at home. I fell in love when I was still fourteen, but was fearful because there might be violence and even killing if it was discovered. We did meet, but marriage was not possible. Things were very bad in our house, and I felt like suicide. There was no food and I had no clothes. At fifteen I left home, with sadness and no wish to live. I went to the city, planning to die, and the police caught me walking on the railway. They gave me food and I worked in the police quarters washing pots. After some time they took me to an orphanage, who took me in but told me I had to go begging. I left after two days and ran away.

For six months I wandered in Bihar, no longer a pickpocket as I was afraid of the police. Then I went to Nagpur on the train, without a ticket. I got down at Vilaspur, where I met a policeman. He took me to where they offered me a job farming. Here I encountered strong caste prejudice and was treated as an untouchable. For instance, we had to use different pots for food. After two months I ran away again, with no money and no food. At this time I was very weak, with long hair and dressed in rags. I nearly had a fatal accident jumping on a train. The police took me to hospital, and later ordered me to leave town. Again, I felt I did not want to live. Finally I arrived in Nagpur, where a girl gave me two bananas. I felt very good. However I did not want to beg. I went to my uncle's house 60 kms away in Wardha, where I learned the news that my mother and father had died. This was very sad as I had not been able to attend their funeral. My uncle allowed me to stay and take some more education. Later I went into a boy's hostel. The boys in the hostel were very naughty, and I too became very naughty. We were a violent gang, doing fighting, beating, and robbery. My uncle and aunt again became fed up with me and took me home. After some time they took me to another hostel, this time run by Bahujan Hitay. I was eighteen years old.

This was a very different hostel - there was discipline, and puja, and no violence. I felt very nervous and thought it was boring. I saw Order Members for the first time, Vivekaprabha and Vimalakirti, and was very impressed. Other people helped me here, and I decided to become a good man like them. I therefore joined TBMSG and attended Dhamma lectures and meditation classes. People still thought of me as a criminal, but I wasn't.

After one year I met a monk, who told me of Goenka's meditation centre at Igatpuri. I thought of the Buddha gaining Enlightenment, and decided to go into the jungle. I took yellow cloth, and went to Yawatmal, where I stayed in the jungle. I had no water or food, and after four days I thought I would not get enlightened there. I went from there to Bombay on a free train provided by the Government for people wishing to visit Dr. Ambedkar's stupa on the anniversary of his death. When I saw the statue and Buddha rupa I cried, and decided to take the monks' robe. I knew that then I would get food. I went from there to Igatpuri, where I met a very friendly monk who looked after me with food and medicine. I slept in their temple for two days, and then returned to Nagpur.

In Nagpur I met a monk named Vinayabodhi, and asked him for ordination. He did not agree. He was staying in a very nice flat and had a comfortable life. I doubted him, how could he be practising? I had a very strong feeling for Enlightenment, but met other monks, who also were not practising. I was fed up. I went to Wardha, where I met Vivekaprabha again. He suggested I did not become a monk, saying that they did not have the Dhamma. I decided to join TBMSG, although my aunt and uncle were against it. When I meditated at home my brothers threw stones at me, but I persisted and had good meditations. I asked Vivekaprabha to teach me. At this time there was the opening ceremony for Bor Dharan retreat centre, and Bhante came on the Maharastra Express. There were huge crowds at the station, but I pushed my way to the front and gave Bhante a rose. I felt very happy. Twenty thousand people came to the ceremony. Bhante was on the stage, and looked very peaceful. I felt that he saw me and that we were in contact. When I moved he noticed me again, and again I felt strong faith and very happy. Still my aunt and uncle were against me practising Buddhism. My aunt brought a 'Tantric Baba' or 'magic man' to cure me. She promised me a wife, a child, and so on, if I would leave it. He used power that came from his eyes, but it did not affect me.

In 1992 I went to live at Bor Dharan community, and there I met Dhammacharis Varaprabha and Nagabhadra, who were anagarikas and wearing robes. I was very impressed and wanted to be one too. Community life there was hard - there was no electricity, no water, no fans, and many mosquitoes. It was very very hot, sometimes as much as 45 degrees. I was working there as a cook, and also doing building work, sometimes for twelve hours a day. In 1993 I became a mitra. I was ordained in 1998 by Subhuti, and took the Padmasambhava practice. My name means "Radiant Prince, the young spiritual hero who shines with spiritual vision." I was ordained with my two friends Kumarayogin and Adityakumar. Now I live in Bhaja village with my wife, and the three of us work at Bhaja retreat centre.  (told to Lokabandhu in 2001)

Ansulkumar's death

Ansulkumar's friend Kumarajiv has written this account of his sad death.

"At the back of my mind is my friend Ansulkumar's sudden death is still quite strong. I am very fortunate that I could be with him in his last moments. He met an accident; a car knocked him while he was on his bike going to a retreat center. He left lying on the roadside for about an hour, people were passing by watching but would not come forward to help. All this time he was crying in helplessness and asking passerby's to help. It was fortunate that an acquaintance of his was passing by and helped to get to the hospital. His right leg was broken in two pieces and knee was crushed. This delay is the major reason for his death, because a lot of blood ran out of his body.

"He came from a very poor background. He has been orphan. He was born in a tribal community known as Gond. About 99% of this tribal community does not have sufficient resources for food and shelter. When I met him first in 1989 he was of my age. After his parents death his maternal uncle adopted him, both uncle and aunt were very kind but could not provide him resources for his education. He was admitted into our Boys Hostel in Wardha, this has changed his life altogether. Though he could not go further in education. He found a community and friends who he could rely on and share his life with.

"He was ordained in 1999. I was one of his Kalyanamitras. He spent all of his time in retreat centers. He always enjoyed serving others. He was quite fearless and honest. It was last few years since he was doing financially Okay. He bought a house last year. He has to take a bank loan of 3 Lakh Rupees (3800 Pounds). His wife is very little educated, would not be able to pay for the bank loan. She has to finds a work that takes care of day to day living for herself and her daughter. Finding work with sufficient amount of monthly income and finding exploitation free situations for a widow is still a very difficult task in Indian life for some one who is least educated and having very little skills.

"As a friend of Ansulkumar I am committed to find money for her to pay off the bank loan so that she has at least her own house. I am running a campaign to raise 3 Lakh Rupees. I am aiming to collect most of the money she needs in India. I am also appealing to wider order if they can contribute towards this, they are very welcome. I appeal to all members of the Buddhist community to donate if they feel inspired to help Ansulkumar's family".