In the Sign of the Golden Wheel

Full of curious episodes such as the miracle of the talking calf, rumours of black magic in personal conflicts, and lamas with "supernormal powers", this volume of memoirs recounts the experiences of an English Buddhist monk working in the mid-1950s to revive Buddhism in the land of its birth. The author's descriptions present a detailed kaleidoscope of the Indian landscape as he relates his grittier encounters with royalty and religion, poverty and politics, corruption and ignorance. His quest takes him all over India, from his hermitage in Kalimpong in the Himalayas to collaboration with a film star in Bombay and involvement in the spectacular festivals to celebrate 2500 years of Buddhism. The story reaches its climax when Sangharakshita addresses 30 mass meetings in four days to console and encourage the hundreds of thousands of ex-untouchables - recent converts to Buddhism - following the sudden death of their hero, Dr Ambedkar.