Bhadant Arya Nagarjuna
Surei Sasai — Chronology

Born in Bessho, Sugō Village, Niimi, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Birth name: Sasai Minoru.

The end of the war. After scrawling “serves us right that we lost” on the village walls, he is beaten by the local youth corps.

Bedridden for two years from injuries sustained in the mountains. On the advice of a mountain ascetic, recovers after drinking the heart of a red-eyed snake.

Moves to Tokyo. Apprenticed to the Shōseii Clinic and serves as a junior at a cotton shop in Asakusa. After the others return home, tries his hand at peddling medicinal herbs.

Enters the night course at Yonago Higashi High School. Repeatedly runs away and wanders the country; struggling with troubles around women, attempts suicide several times.

Wishes to enter monastic life, but is refused at the head temples of every sect. Attempts suicide at Daibosatsu Pass in Yamanashi, but descends the mountain alive.

Collapses at the gate of Daizen-ji in Katsunuma.

Through the introduction of Inoue Shūyū of Daizen-ji, takes ordination under Yamamoto Shūjun, abbot of Yakuō-in on Mt. Takao. Receives the dharma name Shūrei (秀嶺).

Travels widely on foot, training also at Zen and Nichiren-shū temples.

While delivering newspapers, audits courses at Taishō University, studying the teachings of various Buddhist schools. Around this time also studies traditional rōkyoku ballads and divination.

At Yamamoto Shūjun’s urging, travels to Thailand. Trains at Wat Paknam and masters Paknam meditation.

Troubled again by matters of the heart, leaves Thailand for India.

At Rajgir, helps with the construction of the Tahōzan stupa under Yagi Tenshō of Nipponzan-Myōhōji.

Receives a vision of the bodhisattva Nāgārjuna atop Tahōzan and sets out for Nagpur.

Establishes his first temple in Nagpur.

At Siddharth College in Mumbai, researches the work of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

Enshrines a portion of Dr. Ambedkar’s relics in Nagpur.

Around this time, undertakes a fifteen-day fast — without food or water — in a cave; loses his voice for the next two years.

Travels across India in search of sites associated with Nāgārjuna. Attends Buddhist congregations throughout the country and serves as their presiding teacher.

Completes an eight-day fast beside the Vajrāsana at the Mahābodhi Temple in Bodh Gayā.

His teacher Yamamoto Shūjun visits Nagpur for the first time.

Issued an order of forced deportation following expiry of his visa.

Briefly arrested for overstaying. In Nagpur, the “All-Citizens’ Committee for the Protection of Surei Sasai” is formed.

Within a month, 600,000 signatures are gathered. Permission for citizenship is granted.

Receives Indian citizenship from Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Indian name: Ārya Nāgārjuna.

Begins the struggle to reclaim management of the Mahābodhi Temple at Bodh Gayā.

The campaign has unfolded over more than a dozen rounds since, and is currently pursued through litigation aimed at amending the management law.

Around this time, surveys the Mansel and Sirpur sites, acquires land, and conducts excavations.

Receives the Ambedkar International Peace Award.

Visits Geneva and petitions the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the management of Bodh Gayā.

The Mahābodhi Temple is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Appointed the Buddhist representative on the Central Government’s National Commission for Minorities (a three-year term).

Serves as the chief celebrant for the Golden Jubilee marking the fiftieth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar’s mass conversion.

Returns briefly to Japan after forty-four years.

Establishes Nāgārjuna Mahāvihāra on the outskirts of Nagpur. Holds the consecration ceremony.

Returns to Japan once more in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear accident, making a sutra-chanting pilgrimage through the disaster-stricken Tōhoku region.

Falls gravely ill but recovers. Nantenkai is founded.

Becomes president of the Ambedkar International Association and head of Dīkṣā Bhūmi (the “Conversion Ground”).