A Community of Spiritual Friendship

"The existence of Sangha is what makes Buddhism a living, applied spiritual tradition rather than a mere philosophy" 

– Domyo Burk, of Bright Way Zen

Why come together?

The heart of Buddhism is a path and practice realized through a living spiritual community. The Buddha spent six years practicing towards his enlightenment, but he spent the next 45 years teaching. During that time, he established the four parts of the Buddhist community: the monks, nuns, laywomen and laymen. It is because of this effort that the Sangha continues over 2600 years later. We aim to continue in that tradition as a gathering of the lay community.

What is a Sangha?

Sangha is the Pali word for the community of lay and monastic followers of the Buddha. Pali is the language the scriptures, or suttas, were first written in.

What would a gathering be like?

A core part of coming together as Buddhists is to discuss the Dhamma, or teachings of the Buddha. This might mean a reading centered around a particular topic or sutta, followed by discussion questions and an application of the teaching to our daily lives.

Another important part of coming together as Buddhists is meditation. This might mean a short meditation period introduced by a brief chant. There are no special postures, clothing, or learning required to meditate. All that is required is an intention to be still and to cultivate a sense of peace and goodwill.

Lastly, coming together as Buddhists means building a wholesome and healthy sense of community. There will be time to talk and get to know each other. There may also be food to enjoy after the meditation session.