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Dhammarati’s photography work is at least as outstanding as his celebrated graphic design. Revisiting some of these images, it seems impossible that the eye can find such human beauty and warmth amidst such evident hardship. It’s a rare gift that sort of eye, which finds not just the pretty or exotic, doesn’t just revel in natural saturation or easy tones of light, but somehow reflects dignity in its subjects; doesn’t attempt to ennoble them because it sees and captures the nobility that is already there.

Dhammarati’s work has often involved collaboration with the Karuna Trust, a charity involved in working with some of the most disadvantaged communities in India.

You can find more of Dhammarati’s work on his own website, and also on his personal Flickr page.

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“Vajragupta has written an excellent synopsis of the history of an important Buddhist movement. This is of interest to all of us who are concerned with the arrival of Buddhism in the West and the vicissitudes of Buddhist movements through periods of social change over the past half century: the triumphs and disasters, the glory and the tears, the pioneering spirit and the dilemmas of success and failure – it is all set out here in an easy to digest narrative that I found, by turns, informative, nostalgic, encouraging, and challenging. This helps us to gain perspective and to see our way forward with greater clarity.” (David Brazier, author, head of Amida-shu.)

“The Triratna Story is a courageous and important book. Written by a serious adherent, and commissioned by the Triratna Community itself, it defies all expectations to tell the brilliant, troubled, and inspiring history of this unique Western Buddhist movement with a thoroughness and honesty that, frankly, would not have been possible had it been written by an outsider. This is a valuable and instructive text for anyone interested in looking beyond the idealism of the Buddhist teachings to what actually happens when Buddhism becomes real in the modern world.” (Zoketsu Norman Fischer, author, founder of Everyday Zen Foundation.) Back to book