02.23.2024 The Practice of Sangha   “Sangha.” What is it? Essentially, it’s a Buddhist term for community — from a specific community of Buddhist monastics, to a meditation buddy you meet with every day, or anything in between. Whatever your definition, sangha is invaluable; it’s one of Buddhism’s famed three jewels, along with the Buddha (teacher) and the dharma (the teachings). So this Weekend Reader is all about sangha: what it is, why it matters, and what it means to be part of one (or not). May the wisdom here help you feel more at home. —Rod Meade Sperry, editor, Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide What Is Sangha? Thich Nhat Hanh explains that sangha is more than a community, it’s a deep spiritual practice.   A sangha is a community of friends practicing the dharma together in order to bring about and to maintain awareness. The essence of a sangha is awareness, understanding, acceptance, harmony and love. When you do not see these in a community, it is not a true sangha, and you should have the courage to say so. But when you find these elements are present in a community, you know that you have the happiness and fortune of being in a real sangha. ADVERTISEMENT Ask the Teachers: Without a Sangha, is My Practice Moot?   Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Narayan Helen Liebenson, and the late Zenkei Blanche Hartman respond to a reader’s question about practicing without a sangha.   Ringu Tulku Rinpoche: As for community, what you have read is true: taking refuge in the sangha of like-minded fellow practitioners is invaluable. It is one of the triple gems of Buddhist practice. However, we mustn’t be shortsighted in our definition of community. Just because there isn’t anyone in your particular geographical area doesn’t mean that there aren’t countless beings all over the world who are practicing at this very moment. When you sit, try to remember that although you can’t see us, many people are sitting with you.   Spiritual Friendship Is the Path Each one of us, says David Viafora, can be a kalyana mitra, or “spiritual friend.” Here’s how.   When I visit sanghas, I pay close attention to the quality of their friendships. Do people look at each other with eyes of affection and ease? Do they look at each other at all? Do they spend time hanging out after gathering times or at other times of the week? How do they speak about others when they are together, or more importantly, when they are not together? These are just a few signs of how people express their depth of connection and harmony. What do you observe in your own community? Are you manifesting the depth of companionship together that you yearn for?