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Converting to Buddhism as a Form of Political Protest SHIRASGAON, India—More than 500 low-caste Hindus filled the Veera Maidan, an open field at the edge of a dusty Maharashtra village, on a recent Sunday night. Neighbors openly gawked from porches as the throngs of people filed in, many dressed in symbolic white saris and kurtas. Under floodlights, they chanted: “I shall have no faith in Rama and Krishna who are believed to be incarnations of God nor shall I worship them. … I do not and shall not believe that Lord Buddha was the incarnation of Vishnu. … I shall hereafter lead my life according to the principles and teachings of the Buddha.” Instantly, there were 500 new Buddhists in India. The converts had been Dalits, those from India’s lowest Hindu castes, formerly known as “ Buddhism Shirts .” They joined Ambedkarite Buddhism, a movement founded a half-century ago by Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, a Columbia University-educated lawyer ...

Thailand's Buddhism chief removed after pressure from religious groups Thailand’s junta has removed the head of the national   Buddhism   office, the prime minister said on Tuesday, after religious groups called on the government to sack him over his plans to clean up scandal-hit monasteries. Pongporn Pramsaneh, who joined the National Office of Buddhism  in February, had vowed to reform Thailand’s more than 40,000 temples by forcing them to open their finances to the public. They take billions of dollars in donations every year.   The former policeman was appointed amid a standoff between security forces and the influential Dhammakaya temple in February. Authorities wanted to question the temple’s chief abbot on money-laundering charges.   Pongporn will now move to a lower profile post of inspector-general in Prayuth’s office. Despite high-profile temple scandals over murder, drugs and sex as well as improper financia...