The language of Buddhism has changed as the Buddha's teachings were embraced by different societies. In American Buddhism the Sangha is beginning to take on a different meaning.
The Sangha is an important element in the development of socially engaged Buddhism. Books on Buddhism can teach the words and theories of Buddhism but only through practice can Buddhism have social relevance in America.
The Sangha
A Sangha is a group of people with a shared interest in Buddhist practice. They gather together to strengthen each other's practice.
Long associated with the monastic community in many ethnic Buddhist systems, the term Sangha was used to describe the monks that served the spiritual needs of group of people.
Sangha in Books
There are thousands of books about Buddhism written in English. Americans can read about Zen, Tibetan, Chinese, Sri Lankan or any of the other ethnic Buddhisms. There are books of fiction like "Breakfast with Buddha" by Roland Merullo that offer up ideas about Buddhism. Few — if any — books give the complete picture of what it takes to practice Buddhism.
One can read about mediation postures and techniques, learn to count breaths, and chant the OM mantra. There are chapters about anger, nirvana, bardo, dharma, koans, chants, and more. What is seldom brought up in much detail is the Sangha.
The Three Refuges are presented, Buddha, Sangha, Dharma. The history of the historical Buddha is given in detail. The Dharma is used to refer not only to teachings of the Buddha but sometimes used to refer to the teachings of the author.
The Sangha might get an honorable mention but without much explanation of its importance to Buddhist practice. It is usually connected with the monastics – the monks that live in monasteries. Rarely is the term "Sangha" connected to the lay Buddhist community in classic or contemporary Buddhist literature.
The American Buddhist Sangha
American Buddhist groups, like the Center for Pragmatic Buddhism in St. Louis, Missouri, tap into the power of the Sangha as a way to engender a Buddhism that is more socially engaged.
Dr. Jim Eubanks Sensei, Abbot and Director of Buddhist Studies, says, "The Sangha supports us directly, though friendship and shared experience, and additionally, the Sangha provides the essential fertilizer that is required for our personal training to become a socially-relevant training.
"The Sangha shows us how to think 'larger,' so that we grow into more than 'just ourselves:' we are also a representative of the whole Sangha. This larger role of representative that we are entrusted with means we become more than ourselves; we become a piece of everyone."
This in no way results in the loss of individuality of the members. In fact, it is that individuality that allows the Sangha to reach a social consensus on what actions might lead to the most good for the self and for society.
The Social Element
"I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together," say the lyrics from I Am the Walrus by the Beatles. Practicing with a Sangha that is the message; there a Buddhist realizes his or her intimate connection with everyone.
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