Sangharakshita: The Boy, the Monk the Man

by Nagabodhi

Sangharakshita was a Buddhist monk, a writer, a poet, and the founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community – a pioneering worldwide Buddhist movement. He was also an audacious reformer, and for some a deeply controversial figure. In an absorbing narrative, Nagabodhi takes us on a journey through the twists and turns of Sangharakshita’s life; the experiences, insights, and reflections that nurtured his approach as a teacher; what it was like to live among his committed followers; and the controversies he left behind.

Genres: Buddhism, Biography, Nonfiction

369 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2023

Reviews

[Merl Fluin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nagabodhi modestly presents this as a pen portrait rather than a full-blown biography, but it's rich and substantial nonetheless. It's also infinitely more readable than Sangharakshita's own memoirs, which I often find (whisper it) long-winded and a bit dry.

The account of the India years is clear and concise. I've read most of Sangharakshita's memoirs from the period, but as I read this I felt for the first time that could see the biographical wood for the anecdotal trees.

The book noticeably shifts gear when it reaches the 1970s, which is the period when Nagabodhi came to know Sangharakshita personally. Nagabodhi's recollections, although avowedly partial and subjective, bring the picture to vivid life.

I'm especially grateful for the way Nagabodhi manages to convey not only Sangharakshita's many, many wonderful qualities but also the ways in which his attitudes and actions could sometimes be atrocious. No punches are pulled here.

I still don't feel I understand Sangharakshita as a person. Maybe no one ever did or could – he said quite openly he didn't always understand himself. But reading this book has helped me to at least get a sense of him. Light and shadow. The shadows dark, the light very bright.

[Nagapriya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a warm, affectionate portrait of a complex, mysterious, and remarkable contemporary Buddhist teacher. Nagabodhi's engaging style and his personal witnessing of Sangharakshita's life make this memoir engaging and rewarding. This is not exactly a biography - it is written from too close up to be that - but it does evoke a vivid sense of Sangharakshita's unusual trajectory, and even his unnerving, mindful presence. Nagabodhi is generous in his attempts to understand the complexity of a man who seemed to live outside time, but also recognises that, at least for some people, Sangharakshita's impact and legacy are not without their shadow side.

[Sūryanāga Poyzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody who is interested in Sangharakshita or Triratna, the Buddhist tradition he founded, should read this book. It is a well-paced overview of his incredible life including some real insight into his depth of understanding of the Dharma and why it is so significant for us today.

[Sarvadarśin Rich Batsford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very readable and engaging telling of what is a remarkable story and a balanced and valuable perspective on a man who leaves an important, yet complex and controversial legacy.