Taking Refuge in the Sangha

Everyone who comes to practice is a member of the Sangha (community of practice) Even if we come for only one week, our presence and our practice can already contribute to the vitality and harmony of the Sangha. In society, much of our suffering comes from feeling disconnected from one another. We often don’t feel a real connection even with people we live close to, such as our neighbors, our co-workers, and even our family members. Each person lives separately cut off from the support of the community. Being with the Sangha can help to heal these feelings of isolation and separation.

Thich Nhat Hanh often says that the Sangha is a garden, full of many varieties of trees and flowers. When we can look at ourselves and at others as beautiful, unique flowers and trees, we can truly grow to understand and love one another. One flower may bloom early in the spring and another flower may bloom in late summer. One tree may bear many fruits and another tree may offer cool shade. No one plant is greater, lesser than, or the same as any other plant in the garden. Each member of the Sangha also has unique gifts to offer to the community. We each have areas that need attention as well when we can appreciate each member’s contribution and see our weaknesses as potential for growth, we can learn to live together harmoniously. Our practice is to see that we are all interconnected.

We are not in isolation. We are a part of the sangha body - the community. Our happiness and suffering are not individual matters. I am practicing for you, you are practicing for me.