6.2 Buddhist sangha

The Buddhist sangha, a community of followers dedicated to preserving and spreading Buddha's teachings, played a crucial role in early Buddhism. It evolved from wandering ascetics to settled monastic communities, developing formal structures and rules to support spiritual practice.

The sangha's structure includes both monastic and lay communities, with a hierarchy in monasteries. Monastic life centers on strict discipline, daily routines, meditation, and study. The Vinaya Pitaka outlines rules and regulations, while the sangha serves society through education, social welfare, and sometimes political influence.

Origins of Buddhist sangha

• Buddhist sangha emerged as a community of followers dedicated to preserving and propagating Buddha's teachings
• Sangha played a crucial role in the early development and spread of Buddhism across Asia
• Represents one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) central to Buddhist practice and philosophy

Early Buddhist communities

Top images from around the web for Early Buddhist communities

• 

  Siddhartha Gautama — Wikipédia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Ascetic Bodhisatta Gotama with the Group of Five.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Famed Buddhist Nalanda University ruins, 1993.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Siddhartha Gautama — Wikipédia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Ascetic Bodhisatta Gotama with the Group of Five.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Early Buddhist communities

• 

  Siddhartha Gautama — Wikipédia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Ascetic Bodhisatta Gotama with the Group of Five.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Famed Buddhist Nalanda University ruins, 1993.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Siddhartha Gautama — Wikipédia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Ascetic Bodhisatta Gotama with the Group of Five.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Formed around Siddhartha Gautama during his lifetime as he attracted disciples
• Consisted of both monastic and lay followers seeking enlightenment
• Organized into small groups that traveled with the Buddha, learning and practicing his teachings
• Established temporary shelters during rainy seasons, laying the foundation for future monasteries

Role of Buddha's disciples

• Key disciples like Ananda and Mahakasyapa helped codify and transmit Buddha's teachings
• Spread Buddhism to new regions after Buddha's death, establishing new communities
• Developed interpretations and commentaries on Buddha's words, shaping early Buddhist doctrine
• Served as role models for future generations of monastics, embodying the ideals of renunciation and spiritual practice

Evolution from wandering ascetics

• Transitioned from nomadic lifestyle to more settled monastic communities
• Developed formal ordination procedures and monastic rules (Vinaya)
• Established permanent monasteries (viharas) as centers of learning and practice
• Adapted to local cultures and traditions as Buddhism spread, leading to diverse forms of sangha

Structure of sangha

• Sangha structure evolved to support both monastic and lay practitioners in their spiritual journey
• Hierarchical organization developed to maintain order and preserve the authenticity of Buddhist teachings
• Structure varies across different Buddhist traditions but maintains core principles of community and discipline

Monastic vs lay communities

• Monastic sangha consists of fully ordained monks (bhikkhus) and nuns (bhikkhunis)
• Lay sangha includes non-ordained followers who support the monastic community
• Monastics follow stricter rules and dedicate their lives to practice and study
• Lay practitioners integrate Buddhist teachings into daily life while maintaining worldly responsibilities
• Interdependent relationship between monastic and lay communities ensures the continuation of Buddhism

Hierarchy within monasteries

• Abbot or senior monk (Mahathera) leads the monastery
• Fully ordained monks (bhikkhus) with 10+ years of experience
• Novice monks (samaneras) undergoing training before full ordination
• Lay attendants (kappiya) who assist with daily tasks
• Hierarchy based on seniority, knowledge, and adherence to monastic discipline

Nuns and female ordination

• Bhikkhuni (fully ordained nun) lineage established by Buddha but faced challenges over time
• Theravada tradition lost bhikkhuni ordination, leading to debates about its revival
• Mahayana traditions generally maintain full ordination for women
• Contemporary movements advocate for gender equality and the reinstatement of bhikkhuni ordination
• Variations in status and roles of nuns across different Buddhist cultures and traditions

Monastic life and practices

• Monastic life centered around strict discipline, simplicity, and spiritual cultivation
• Daily routines structured to support meditation, study, and service to the community
• Practices designed to cultivate mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion in pursuit of enlightenment

Daily routines and rituals

• Pre-dawn wake-up followed by morning chanting and meditation
• Alms rounds in traditional settings or meal preparation in modern monasteries
• Midday meal as the last solid food until the next morning
• Afternoon dedicated to study, work, or community service
• Evening chanting, meditation, and Dharma talks
• Observance of Uposatha days with intensified practice and recitation of monastic rules

Meditation and study

• Various meditation techniques practiced (Samatha, Vipassana, Zen, Tantric)
• Daily individual and group meditation sessions
• Study of Buddhist scriptures (Sutras, Abhidharma, commentaries)
• Memorization and recitation of important texts
• Scholarly pursuits including translation and commentary writing
• Dharma discussions and debates to deepen understanding

Alms and material support

• Traditional alms rounds (pindapata) in Theravada countries
• Lay supporters provide food, robes, medicine, and shelter to monastics
• Monasteries may manage donations and distribute resources
• Some modern monasteries engage in limited economic activities for self-sufficiency
• Strict rules govern the acceptance and use of material possessions by monastics

Rules and regulations

• Monastic discipline forms the foundation of sangha life and practice
• Rules aim to create an environment conducive to spiritual growth and harmony within the community
• Regulations adapt to different cultural contexts while maintaining core principles

Vinaya Pitaka overview

• Collection of texts outlining monastic rules and their origins
• Includes Patimokkha (basic code of discipline) and supplementary rules
• Provides guidelines for ordination, communal living, and conflict resolution
• Varies slightly between different Buddhist traditions (Theravada, Mulasarvastivada, Dharmaguptaka)
• Studied and recited regularly by monastic communities to maintain discipline

Major and minor precepts

• Major precepts (Parajika) result in expulsion if violated (sexual intercourse, theft, murder, false claims of spiritual attainment)
• Sanghadisesa rules require formal meetings and temporary suspension for serious offenses
• Nissaggiya Pacittiya rules govern the possession and handling of material goods
• Pacittiya rules address less serious infractions requiring confession and resolution
• Sekhiya rules cover etiquette and deportment for monastics

Disciplinary procedures

• Confession (patidesaniya) for minor infractions
• Formal meetings (sanghadisesa) for more serious offenses
• Temporary suspension or probation (parivasa) for rehabilitation
• Expulsion (nasana) for irreconcilable violations of major precepts
• Restoration (osarana) procedures for readmitting reformed monastics

Sangha's role in society

• Sangha serves as a bridge between Buddhist teachings and the wider community
• Monastics provide spiritual guidance, education, and social services to lay followers
• Buddhist institutions often play significant roles in cultural and political spheres

Education and scholarship

• Monasteries function as centers of learning and literacy
• Preservation and transmission of Buddhist texts and commentaries
• Education of novices and lay students in Buddhist philosophy and practice
• Development of Buddhist art, literature, and architecture
• Scholarly exchanges and debates between different Buddhist traditions

Social welfare activities

• Provision of healthcare services in traditional and modern settings
• Disaster relief and community support during times of crisis
• Environmental conservation efforts inspired by Buddhist principles
• Counseling and conflict resolution services for lay communities
• Charitable activities such as operating orphanages and care homes

Political influence

• Historical role of sangha in legitimizing and advising rulers
• Involvement in independence movements and nation-building in some Asian countries
• Contemporary political activism around issues like human rights and environmental protection
• Tensions between religious neutrality and social engagement in different contexts
• Varying degrees of state control and support for sangha across Buddhist countries

Variations across traditions

• Different Buddhist schools developed distinct monastic systems and practices
• Adaptations to local cultures and historical circumstances shaped diverse forms of sangha
• Core principles of renunciation and spiritual cultivation remain consistent across traditions

Theravada sangha

• Emphasizes strict adherence to Vinaya rules
• Maintains forest monk traditions alongside urban monasteries
• Temporary ordination common in some cultures (Thailand, Myanmar)
• Strong alms-round tradition and reliance on lay support
• Challenges in maintaining bhikkhuni ordination lineage

Mahayana monastic systems

• Greater diversity in monastic practices and levels of strictness
• Development of Bodhisattva precepts alongside Vinaya
• Emphasis on scholarship and philosophical study in some traditions
• Integration of Pure Land and Chan/Zen practices in East Asian monasteries
• Maintenance of bhikshuni (fully ordained nun) lineages in most traditions

Vajrayana and tantric orders

• Incorporation of tantric practices and rituals into monastic life
• Non-celibate yogic practitioners (ngakpa) in Tibetan traditions
• Complex hierarchies including reincarnate lamas (tulkus)
• Monastic universities (shedra) for advanced philosophical and tantric studies
• Integration of meditation retreats and artistic practices (thangka painting, mandala creation)

Modern challenges and adaptations

• Sangha faces significant challenges in the context of modernization and globalization
• Adaptations necessary to maintain relevance and vitality in changing societies
• Opportunities for growth and renewal through engagement with contemporary issues

Secularization and declining numbers

• Decreasing monastic populations in traditional Buddhist countries
• Competition from secular education and career opportunities
• Challenges in maintaining traditional practices in urban environments
• Efforts to modernize monastic education and make it more relevant
• Increased focus on lay practice and non-monastic forms of Buddhism

Western Buddhist communities

• Establishment of monasteries and retreat centers in non-Buddhist countries
• Adaptations to Western cultural norms and legal systems
• Development of lay teacher roles and non-monastic practice communities
• Integration of Buddhist concepts with Western psychology and science
• Challenges in maintaining authenticity while adapting to new contexts

Technology and globalization impact

• Use of digital tools for preserving and sharing Buddhist teachings
• Online platforms for meditation instruction and Dharma talks
• Virtual sangha communities connecting practitioners globally
• Ethical considerations around monastic use of technology and social media
• Increased exposure to diverse Buddhist traditions leading to cross-pollination of ideas

Sangha's significance in Buddhism

• Sangha represents one of the Three Jewels, essential components of Buddhist practice
• Serves as a living embodiment of Buddha's teachings and the possibility of enlightenment
• Provides structure and support for both monastic and lay practitioners on the Buddhist path

Preservation of teachings

• Oral transmission and later textual preservation of Buddha's words
• Development of commentarial traditions and exegetical literature
• Maintenance of lineages of practice and realization
• Adaptation of teachings to new cultural and historical contexts
• Scholarly work in translating and interpreting Buddhist texts

Spiritual guidance for laity

• Monks and nuns serve as role models and teachers for lay followers
• Provision of ritual services for important life events (births, marriages, deaths)
• Offering of meditation instruction and retreats for lay practitioners
• Dharma talks and teachings to explain Buddhist concepts and practices
• Personal counseling and spiritual advice for individuals and families

Symbol of renunciation

• Monastic robes and shaved heads as visible reminders of renunciation
• Embodiment of simplicity and non-attachment in daily life
• Inspiration for lay followers to practice generosity and ethical conduct
• Representation of the possibility of liberation from suffering
• Preservation of the ideal of full-time dedication to spiritual practice