I want to talk about community. In Buddhism, community, or Sangha, is incredibly important. It’s one of the “three jewels,” along with the Buddha, representing the goal of awakening, and the Dharma, which are the teachings that lead to awakening. These three jewels are cherished because they are precious. Sangha can also be called “the three treasures,” which might be a more helpful translation because it conveys how much it is valued.
Sangha literally means “a bringing together.” It’s about bringing people together around a common purpose, such as spiritual development or spiritual awakening. We gather so we can practice and wake up together. Here at Wildmind, we have created a community-supported meditation initiative, where we come together as a community. So the question is, how can this community help us wake up spiritually?
I’ll share seven ways that being part of a community can help us awaken. But first, it’s important to note that Sangha isn’t just about membership. It’s not like paying dues and magically receiving benefits. To benefit from it, we have to actively participate and engage. We benefit by doing.
I encourage you to use the online community available to all sponsors. If you’re unsure how to access it, just email me in reply to any community newsletter.
We all have our struggles — feeling depressed, despondent, or losing touch with our sense of worth. At those times, we need others. Even when we’ve lost confidence in ourselves, others believe in us and remind us of our value. They encourage us, and that word “encourage” beautifully includes “courage.” When we lack self-confidence, others can give us courage, which is quite magical.
I noticed early on that meditating with others made it much easier. Meditation sessions that felt like a struggle alone became effortless when done in a group. Many people have the same experience. When we are alone, our practice may feel unsteady, but around others, we feel rock-solid. Even in an online community, knowing others are practicing with us helps commit to meditating.
One of the clearest benefits of community is rooted in our nature as social creatures. Even introverts need meaningful connections. We all need to feel part of something bigger than ourselves and to be seen and heard by others. These connections are heartfelt, allowing us to care for others and be cared for. This is, perhaps, the most meaningful form of connection.
Being in a Sangha shows us we are not alone. We realize others have the same struggles, and it helps us judge ourselves less harshly.
Connecting with others can be difficult at times, which is why Sartre said, “Hell is other people.” People may not always behave well or may point out faults or express opinions we don’t like. For example, dealing with a climate-change skeptic was challenging for me. But this discomfort is good, providing opportunities to learn more about ourselves and rise above our reactions.
So, how can we respectfully and kindly disagree with someone? Disagreeing without belittling or name-calling is crucial. Social networks often push us apart, but commitment to a community provides a centripetal force that helps us grow through discomfort.
We often overlook our positive qualities, but others in the community can help us see ourselves more clearly and positively. In my training with the Triratna Buddhist Order, we celebrated each other’s merits in small discussion groups. Though receiving such praise can be uncomfortable, it helps us recognize our worth.
Similarly, people might hesitate to contribute to an online community, feeling they have nothing to offer. But everyone has something valuable to share. The act of contributing encourages others to do the same.
Seeing others act compassionately and wisely challenges and inspires us positively. I’ve seen the Wildmind community members respond with great kindness to each other’s struggles, often in ways I hadn’t thought of. These acts of kindness and insight are truly inspiring and enlarge our sense of humanity.
To wrap up, how can this community help us awaken spiritually? For it to be effective, we have to be active participants. Community is created by our efforts to connect and support each other through bravery, kindness, and communication.
Community is invaluable. The Buddha emphasized that spiritual friendship is the entire spiritual life. Awakening isn’t possible without community. So, let’s come together and make this community thrive.
I’m grateful to be part of this community and glad to have you here!