Sangha

A Sangha is a group of people.

They follow the ways of the Buddha. Many people call this a community.

Some members are monks. Others are nuns. They live together in a group. This helps them practice their faith.

They often wear robes. These robes can be many colors. Some are blue or grey. Others are maroon or black.

They also follow special rules. They might study or meditate. This is a very important part of their life.

It is a way to live together and learn.

People have used this idea for a long time.

The word Sangha means an assembly or a community.

In Buddhism, it is one of the Three Refuges. This is a group people turn to for support.

Many people use the word to mean monks and nuns. Monks are men. Nuns are women. They live in groups to practice their faith.

They follow many rules. These rules help them live in a disciplined way. Some rules say they should only eat before noon. They also spend time studying and meditating.

Members often wear simple robes. The color of the robes changes. Some groups wear saffron. Others wear maroon, black, or grey.

In the past, monks and nuns were often called beggars. This is because they relied on others for food. They would walk through towns with bowls to receive gifts. Some groups also work in farms to grow food.

Some people believe the Sangha includes all Buddhists. Others say it only means those who are enlightened. An enlightened person has reached a special stage of wisdom. Different schools of Buddhism have different ideas about this.

The word Sangha means an assembly, a company, or a community.

In many traditions, it describes a group of people who come together for a shared purpose. Historically, the term was used in politics to describe a governing assembly in a kingdom or republic. Because of this long history, some Buddhists believe the Sangha represents one of the oldest surviving democratic institutions in human history. In the context of Buddhism, the Sangha is one of the Three Refuges. This means it is one of the three main things followers turn to for spiritual support.

In Buddhism, the Sangha usually refers to monastic communities. These communities are made of monks, known as bhikkhus, and nuns, known as bhikkhunis.

Some people use the term to describe a special group called the āryasaṅgha, or the "noble Sangha." This group includes anyone who has reached one of the four stages of enlightenment. However, different schools of Buddhism have different rules for the word. For example, the Theravada school uses the word parisā to describe the whole community of monks, nuns, and lay followers. They reserve the specific word "sangha" for those who are enlightened.

The monastic Sangha was first established by Gautama Buddha in the fifth century BCE. He created it so people could practice their faith in a disciplined way. This allowed them to live free from the duties of a normal household life. The Sangha also helps preserve the original teachings of the Buddha. Members work to translate these teachings and share them with others. To keep order, they follow the vinaya, which is a set of rules for conduct. These rules can include things like eating only before noon or staying chaste.

Monastics often own very few things. They usually carry three robes, an alms bowl, a belt, a needle, and a razor. The colors of their robes change depending on their tradition. For instance, Theravada groups often wear saffron. Tibetan Buddhists might wear maroon, while Japanese monastics may wear black. In the past, monks and nuns were sometimes called "beggars" because they lived on alms. They would walk through towns with bowls to receive food from others. While some groups now work in agriculture, many still rely on the kindness of the community.

Dietary habits in the Sangha can also vary by tradition. Many people think all Buddhists are vegetarians, but this is not always true. In the Pali Canon, the Buddha said monks could eat meat if the animal was not killed specifically for them. In some Mahayana traditions, however, following the Bodhisattva Precepts includes a vow of vegetarianism. Different schools also have different views on who belongs to the Sangha. Some groups believe it includes all Buddhists, while others believe it only includes the priesthood. These different ideas show how much people wonder about and study the meaning of community.

The term Sangha means an association, assembly, or community.

Historically, this word was used in political contexts to describe governing assemblies in kingdoms or republics. Because of this history, some Buddhists suggest the Sangha represents one of the oldest surviving democratic institutions in human history. In the Buddhist tradition, the Sangha is recognized as the third of the Three Refuges. This means it is one of the three central pillars of spiritual support for practitioners. While the term has broad meanings, its specific application varies across different Buddhist schools and traditions.

In many Buddhist contexts, the Sangha refers specifically to monastic communities. These consist of monks, known as bhikkhus, and nuns, known as bhikkhunis.

A separate category exists called the āryasaṅgha, or the "noble Sangha." This group includes any Buddhist who has attained one of the four stages of enlightenment. This status applies regardless of whether the individual is a member of a monastic community. Different schools use the term with varying levels of strictness. For example, the Theravada school often uses the term parisā or catuparisā to describe the entire fourfold assembly of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen. They reserve the specific word "sangha" for those they consider to be enlightened.

Monastic life is often seen as a way to find the most suitable environment for reaching enlightenment. Many schools believe monasticism helps followers avoid the temptations and changes of worldly life.

The Sangha also serves the vital function of preserving the original teachings of the Buddha. Monastics take responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the doctrine. They also work to translate and spread these teachings to others. To maintain order and discipline, monastics follow the vinaya. This is a collection of rules for conduct. In some traditions, this includes the Patimokkha, which contains 227 main rules. These rules cover topics like complete chastity and eating only before noon.

Rules within the Sangha can vary significantly between different historical periods and regions. For instance, the Japanese founder Saichō decided to reduce the traditional rules to about 60. He based these on the Bodhisattva Precepts. In the Kamakura period, many Japanese schools like Zen and Pure Land Buddhism adopted this new model. Later, in 1964, Thích Nhất Hạnh established the Order of Interbeing. This group follows fourteen specific precepts observed by all its monastics. These different systems of rules show how the Sangha has adapted to different cultures and eras.

Monastics typically live with very few personal possessions. This practice is part of their identity as renunciants. Standard items often include three robes, an alms bowl, a cloth belt, a needle and thread, a razor, and a water filter.

The color of their robes serves as a visual marker for their specific tradition. Theravada groups often wear saffron. Tibetan Buddhists typically wear maroon. In Vietnam, Mahayana members may wear blue, grey, or brown. Korean monastics often wear grey, while those in Japan may wear black. Originally, robes were often sewn together from rags and dyed with earth or other available materials.

Dietary practices in the Sangha are a subject of much discussion and variation. Many people mistakenly believe that all Buddhists are vegetarians. However, the Pali Canon indicates that the Buddha allowed monks to eat meat if the animal was not killed specifically for them. In the Theravada tradition, strict vegetarianism is a personal choice rather than a requirement. In contrast, some Mahayana traditions encourage or require vegetarianism. For example, followers of the Bodhisattva Precepts in East Asia may take a vow of vegetarianism. However, some Tibetan lineages transmit traditions that do not include a vow of vegetarianism.

Work and food sustain the community through different methods. Historically, monks and nuns practiced "alms rounds." They would walk through populated areas with bowls to receive food offerings from the community. While the vinaya originally prohibited direct involvement in agriculture, this changed in some East Asian Mahayana schools. In these areas, the monastic community has traditionally engaged in farming. This shift is sometimes linked to the Chan Buddhist teaching that a day without work is a day without food. These varying methods of survival highlight the deep connection between the Sangha and the lay community they support.