A deep approach to Navayana begins with Ambedkar’s own writings, because they articulate both the doctrinal reinterpretation and the ethical passion behind it. “The Buddha and His Dhamma” stands at the center, presenting the Buddha’s life and teaching through the lens of equality, rationality, and social ethics. Alongside it, texts such as “Annihilation of Caste” and essays like “Buddha or Karl Marx” illuminate why Buddhism, for Ambedkar, becomes a path of emancipation from caste and structural injustice. Reading these works together allows the reader to see how liberty, equality, and fraternity are woven into his understanding of the Dhamma, and how traditional ideas such as karma and rebirth are treated in a more this‑worldly, rational spirit.

To complement these primary sources, engagement with scholarly studies offers critical context and nuance. Works by authors such as Gail Omvedt, Eleanor Zelliot, Aishwary Kumar, and Johannes Beltz examine how Navayana differs from earlier Buddhist traditions and how it has shaped Dalit and Ambedkarite movements. Such research situates Ambedkar’s reinterpretation within broader currents of Indian history, Buddhist philosophy, and struggles against caste, helping the seeker discern both continuity and rupture in relation to Theravāda and Mahāyāna. Comparative study of these older schools, even at an introductory level, further clarifies what is distinctive in Navayana’s emphasis on social transformation and ethical activism.

Equally important is contact with living Ambedkarite Buddhist communities, where the teachings are not merely studied but embodied. Visiting places such as Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur or local Ambedkarite viharas, and participating in study circles or reading groups centered on “The Buddha and His Dhamma,” allows one to see how doctrines of equality and human dignity are practiced in daily life. Within these communities, the 22 vows given by Ambedkar at conversion often serve as a concrete guide, expressing a deliberate break from caste‑based practices and an affirmation of a more egalitarian spiritual culture. Group meditation, dhamma discussions, and community programs reveal how Navayana orients practice toward collective uplift rather than purely individual liberation.

Finally, a seeker can draw on the growing body of institutional and digital resources that preserve and disseminate this tradition. Ambedkarite organizations, Buddhist societies, and research centers provide access to archives of his speeches and writings, as well as lectures and introductory materials on Navayana thought. Many of these resources highlight the social reform dimensions of Ambedkar’s Buddhism, the centrality of the 22 vows, and the role of Buddhism in Dalit emancipation. By bringing together careful reading, scholarly reflection, and lived engagement with communities, one can enter more fully into the spirit of Navayana as a re‑articulation of the Dhamma around equality, rationality, and the annihilation of caste.