The Buddha and his Dhamma

“The Buddha and His Dhamma” is Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s monumental reinterpretation of the life and teachings of Buddha, written with a modern, rational, and socially conscious perspective. Unlike traditional religious commentaries, Ambedkar presents Buddhism not as a mystical faith, but as an ethical and practical guide for building a just society.

A deeply significant part of Ambedkar’s analysis is his rejection of Mayavada—the Advaita Vedanta doctrine that the world is an illusion (maya). In this book, Ambedkar argues that such philosophies weaken social responsibility by denying the reality of human suffering. He contrasts this with the Buddha’s teachings, which treat the world, pain, and social injustice as real and demanding practical action.

Through clear narration and critical reasoning, Ambedkar shows:

• Buddhism as a religion of reason, equality, and compassion

• The Buddha’s rejection of metaphysical speculation, including the idea that life is mere illusion

• The Dhamma as a path of moral responsibility, social awareness, and liberation from oppression

• Why Ambedkar chose Buddhism as a movement for human dignity and social transformation

This book is both a biography of the Buddha and a philosophical text that sharpens the difference between Buddhist ethics and Mayavada’s emphasis on illusion and detachment.

Profound, historically grounded, and socially revolutionary, The Buddha and His Dhamma remains Ambedkar’s definitive contribution to modern Buddhist thought and a guiding text for anyone seeking truth through reason and justice.