Buddhist Belief Blog

The third of the three jewels as taught in Buddhist Belief, is The Sangha. In our western society, this is, perhaps, the most misinterpreted of the three jewels. The sangha is often called the community of the wise. One way to understand the sangha is to see it on at least three levels.

One of the levels is often referred to as the “noble sangha“. This is the community of the buddhas and teachers who are awakened — who we find will inspire and encourage us in our practice. These are the people who have never wavered in their commitment to end suffering in our world. These are the people who show us through the way they live their lives, how we should aspire to live our lives. These are the people who devote so much of their lives to teaching us the ways of Buddhist Belief.

The sangha is also the monastic order of monks and nuns. These people are the example to us of how to live simply with great integrity. Here in the western world we often tend to compare the monks and nuns to the “noble sangha” teachers and say those in the monastic order don’t do much compared to the teachers who are working on spiritual projects, writing books and building Buddhist centers of learning. However, if you look at it this way — by “not doing much” — they remind us of the importance of dedicating our lives to strong ethics and mindfulness.

Finally, the sangha can be found in the communities and relationships of trust and integrity we nurture in our own lives. Sangha, in the most genuine sense, is any relationship where harmony, wisdom, and interconnectedness are treasured. Sure, there are many challenges when we decide to go on retreat and/or sit with ourselves in silent meditation. But, if you think about it, it is far more challenging to work on community development and nurturing true friendships. We need to learn to bring our practice into the world so our practice can be enriched and meaningful.

Our path, our practice, is not complete without this third level of the sangha.

Our time sitting in meditation is vital and not to be belittled in any way. But it is when we are out in our communities and associating with others, where living ethically is put to the test. It is in our communities where our commitment to kindness and openness is challenged, where we begin to understand that generosity and forgiveness require letting go. Nowhere else in our lives are we so vulnerable as in our relationships, so the Buddha’s teaching encourages us to learn how to speak truthfully, to listen without defensiveness, to learn how to offer and receive kindness, to let go of our personal story and listen deeply to our universal story.

As our practice deepens, we increasingly understand the truth of our interconnectedness and interdependence. All beings long for happiness — all beings desire to be understood — and all beings yearn to be protected. All beings long to be free from pain, struggle, and fear.

In a very real way, both my happiness and sorrow are linked to yours. We cannot seek our own awakening; we can only take part in the awakening of all beings.

The cultivation of community, or sangha, is ultimately to commit ourselves to strong, respectful relationships. It is a commitment to discovering the buddhanature in all beings and to living our dharma, our own understanding. It is not always possible for us to connect with and be part of established dharma communities, yet it is always possible for us to nurture community within the relationships already present in our lives. We can all learn what it means to be a true friend to another, offering kindness, honesty, and understanding.

This posting, and the previous three postings are my attempt to show you how the Three Jewels are so tied together. When we open our practice with the words….

… perhaps we can now understand how profound and enduring this triple gem is for us and for the world. When nurtured together — we can see how these jewels hold within them the whole of the teaching and also the path to enduring freedom.

Metta ….May all beings be well and happy. May all beings live in safety. May all beings be healthy and strong. May all beings live with ease.

Namaste — Be in Peace.

Ron Rink
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Just click the links that are sort of Grey in color to take you to where you can learn more about each book and how you can purchase a copy for your own library.

Anam Thubten — No Self – No Problem

No Self – No Problem
shows how to realize the ultimate meaning of life in each moment by dissolving all notions of ego-identity. It asks that spiritual seekers wake up to their true nature, which is already enlightened. Based on Buddhist wisdom traditions, this easy-to-read book discusses in simple, but profound and inspiring language, how we can live a life full of love, satisfaction, and happiness. No Self – No Problem

Sharon Salzberg — The Kindness Handbook

“It takes boldness, even audacity, to step out of our habitual patterns and experiment with a quality like kindness–to work with it and see just how it might shift and open up our lives. This book is an invitation to do just that. — From The Kindness Handbook