Christof Glaser

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Over a year ago Christof Glaser purchased the domain name buddhas-smile-school.org for Rajan. He then made his server available and he and I built the original BSS site.

Today the site was moved to a faster server in the US of A.

The world continues to spin…

Sarnath: Living Buddhism

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The location of Buddha’s Smile School is one of the holiest sites for Buddhists anywhere. For the many archaeological attractions and rich history of the place, there are websites and books. Here I intend to say something about a very contemporary, and perhaps neglected, wealth of Sarnath: its international Buddhist community.

In fact, there are monasteries from all the major Buddhist traditions of the world. The Theravada Sangha is well represented, as the main temple (Mulagandhakuti) is run mainly by Sri Lankan Bhikkus. There is also a Burmese temple, and a Thai one. This facilitates the reception of pilgrims from the respective countries, and allows interested locals to learn about the Theravada tradition.

The Tibetan community in Sarnath mainly gravitates around the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies. I believe that this Institution has a tremendous importance for the preservation of Tibetan culture, but also of Buddhist teachings as a whole. In fact, it has encouraged interactions between Tibetan traditional scholars and Indian Pandits, towards a better understanding of the original Indian sources of Buddhism. Geshes, Khenpos, Lopons and Panditas work side by side and are available for interested students. The Institute was run for a long time by Ven.Samdhong Rinpoche, now the Prime Minister of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile.

Rinpoche has been kind enough to introduce me to my revered Teacher, Prof. Ramshankar Tripathi. I am nowhere in a position to praise Tripathiguruji adequately. What I can say is that I, like many others, owe him whatever understanding of Buddhist philosophical texts I have gained. Even more, his ability to inspire us students makes him a living treasure even in mere recollection.

Besides the Institute, temples of the major Tibetan schools are scattered through Sarnath: Thrangu Rinpoche?s Karma Kagyu might be the biggest, although I am not sure. Rinpoche is the personal tutor of the Gyalwang Karmapa and conducts international seminars every year.

There is also a Japanese temple of the Nichirenshu, the tradition that focuses on the recitation of the Lotus Sutra. With my friend Daisy (Rajan’s small daughter) we have many times toured all the temples, and this seemed to be one of her favorites, as it is neat, with wood and gold (I think this would be the reason).

The Chinese Temple, where the Oracle dwells, is a convergence: the main Buddha in the shrine is not Chinese, but Theravada (I think Burmese). Some of the monks seem of Indian origin, and some Tibetan. Even the Great Geshe Yeshe Thapke, the sharp scholar of the Middle Way, has often stayed there.

Towards the countryside, there?s also a Korean monastery. Of this, I can only say that it is tranquil and that the hall looks like a hall to meditate, perhaps more so than in the other shrines, where visitors form an inconstant but not always contemplative flow.

Buddhist activities in Sarnath are more than I have sketched here. They are not so noticeable or advertised, and perhaps it takes time and attention to capture the complex life of Sarnath?s Buddhism. Great scholars bask in their own simplicity, practitioners come and go and, as I said, there?s even a friendly oracle. Besides heaping merit by walking around the Stupa, it is worthwhile to keep ones eyes? open and make aspirations.

Heather Mason

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The first thing that strikes me about this school is the name. What indeed would leave the Buddha Smiling? It would be the relinquishment of ignorance and suffering it would be compassion and wisdom….and succinctly, it is all the characteristics that define the philosophy of the Buddha Smile School and its founder Rajan whose instinct knowing and love made all these things manifest for others.

I met Rajan and Sukhdev 2 year ago after a small crisis in my own life. Through my dear friend Mattia I was introduced to the family, and hardly knew them, yet, I was instantly treated like one of them, they took me into their home into their life and into their hearts. I remember Sukhdev telling me never to say thank you as it was an insult, thank you is for strangers….family needs no thank you. I recall endless stories of struggle and that the couple endured in order to be together, in order to live their dreams, and in order to help others. There’s is a marvellous tale of the potential to be generous and the ability to change the lives of others.

Sometimes when I tell the story of their lives I feel like I’m exaggerating because there is such inherent beauty in it that it sounds to good to be true and yet it is all fact.

Risking a love marriage in a part of India that still extols arranged marriage Rajan was disowned by her family and friends. Alone in the world left only only with her precious Sukhdev she never looked back and stood in the shadows of her own sorrow, but rather rejoiced in her great love and dedicated her time and energy to helping others, rather than worrying for herself. A teacher by training Rajan once a resident of the booming Calcutta upper middle class came to one of the poorest regions in the country known as Uttar Pradesh in a town called Sarnath. There she began teaching the poorest of the local children for free. What started as a simple act of generosity soon burgeoned into a life long project. Through word of mouth…something that moves faster then the speed of light in the beggar towns of India, Rajan teachings became heralded throughout the village. Shortly thereafter she was teaching children on her front lawn……and letter moved into a small flat where she began an official free school for untouchable children, while Sukhdev opened a small local restaurant to support the family.

As time has passed the school became more then a place of simple education for a few children and transformed into a house of learning for over 100 hundred needy students. A place were paucity turned into opportunity and starvation satisfied by the school’s healthy meals metamorphosed into a thirst for knowledge that Rajan continued to nurture. In living amongst Rajan and her school for over two months, I can honestly say she is the closest thing I know to a living saint. She is humble, kind, and full of life. She gives as though she has an endless receptacle of energy and yet accepts hardly anything in return. I remember how completely she would insist I buy her nothing not even simple commodities like shampoo and soup if I used them, the only thing she would readily receive would be joy. She simply gives and gives and loves.

I am sure the Buddha is smiling at her and upon her hundreds of children. I am honoured to know Rajan and her family.

Heather Mason

Sarnath Cafe

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sarnath-cafe.jpg
Sukhdev, Daisy, Rosy, Rajan and Sukhdev’s father. Drawing by Mattia Salvini

Sukhdev is Rajan’s husband. He masterminded a lively restaurant, catering to foreign scholars, Indians and Tibetans. This activity is the backbone of their charities, as it lies right next to the school, which in turn is none other than the lower section of their home.

Now, Sukhdev’s family is fivefold, in ascending order of height: Rosie is very small and powerful. Daisy is a bit taller and ultra-sharp. Rajan is of course their mother and as you know she is the life of Buddha’s Smile School. Sukhdev is cook and manager, and pictures not too dissimilar from the one here reproduced shine in the main road of Sarnath. Sukhdev’s father lives with them, he is extremely tall but prefers to remain in the background.

This picture is to help you recognize them if you go to Sarnath.