Building Community (Being part of the Sangha Treasure ~ by Mo Henderson

In our latest blog post, Mo Henderson explores what it means to be part of a Buddhist community, pointing towards a need to embrace and include all forms of training within the Sangha Treasure. 

‘Harmony in the sangha pertains to the entire sangha’

Daizui MacPhillamy

I remember meeting Rev Master Daizui in the year 2000 at Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in Northumberland. On leaving he said ‘ play your part partners’. I have always remembered those words and believe it is important for each of us to individually act in ways which serve the sangha or any community or family to which we belong.

For a Zen Buddhist, to nourish ourselves and others means a daily practice of meditation, aligning with the Precepts, study of the Buddhist Teachings , including the Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path and doing our best to train and guard the underlying values of Buddhist Teaching. For those of us who train in the laity the values we develop and learn to treasure are naturally expressed in our daily life.

‘Harmony is called the sangha Treasure’  Dogen

When there is disharmony in a sangha or other kind of community, it has consequences for everyone.. Doubts and suffering may arise in different ways and each of us can feel pain based on our own memories, experiences and tendencies. Recently, I have been reflecting about how I can serve others in terms of helping to create harmony or at the very least not cause harm. For me, this involves sharing what I know through experience and speaking what I see as the truth even if this is not easy.

When I observe or intuitively sense an uncomfortable truth, I have a tendency to stay silent and mistake not speaking out and backing down for kindliness and compassion towards others. I am learning this may be a distraction from speaking the truth in a skilful way (and not getting upset by doing so). In realising and accepting the truths I observe, there is a sense of learning to stand my own ground and to risk speaking out, otherwise am I living a lie? Guarding against my own assumptions and projections is a priority, otherwise confusion between what I ‘know’ and what I ‘don’t know’ can affect my response to what life brings. There’s much I don’t know, however understanding and accepting ‘unknowing’ is part of the practice too, how can we ‘know’ in an interconnected world, where all is flow and change and at the same time, use logical thought and its synergy with life, as equally important to express things in a wholesome way?

I believe all of these things based on practice and values can be offerings towards a cohesive sangha, constantly contributing to transparency, inclusiveness, trust and openness which serve to bring people together. From my experience, secrets can actually cover up lies and not only disturb one’s mind, but disturb the whole group in which we belong.

In my view, this is why ethics and boundaries are essential in order to inform, and protect members. Rules don’t have to be severe, but can function to gently point to what is expected from members of communities in a kindly, firm and respectful way. This contributes to people feeling safe and able to speak out.

I believe an essential part of community life or any group involvement is acceptance of individual differences. I was once part of a work group in which one person was clearly wanting things to be done their way, without listening to or taking into consideration what others were willing to offer. People gradually disappeared or made excuses to go and do something else and the person who had taken over the group seemed unaware of how their actions had affected others. I believe it is important for vigilance and self enquiry about one’s own intentions and motivation towards others needs and getting to know people is imperative and helpful in seeing those who may not be serving the community and causing harm. In this kind of supportive environment, daily life can be conducted in a transparent and open way, with people being aware of their own and each other’s needs, speaking out and being supportive when needed.

Face to face embodied communication is a wonderful way to live a life of offering to others. Actually ‘showing up’ at group retreat in person, to practice with others, is an opportunity to manoeuvre around challenges of disagreement, dislike and personal preferences. Learning to listen to yourself and others and to observe one’s own responses, not disappearing or avoiding when feeling uncomfortable is a real sangha treasure. From my experience it’s kind of experiencing your sitting place on the move. Then as lay practitioners our practice can be expressed in the wider sangha, local communities, family and work groups, all teaching us to be still with daily life and allowing the opportunity to share our ‘sitting place’ in daily life.

But what of ‘indirect’ communication? We are living in a world of amazing technological systems, AI with chat boxes, instant news, texting, podcasts, social media groups and zoom, all bringing different pressures and challenges. I have experienced being part of virtual zoom groups with fellow practitioners and have enjoyed communication with a small team. From the beginning a bond was quickly formed and communication flowed easy with a sense of ‘knowing’ each other due to our common practice.

I know there is an active development of online Buddhist communities both global and local and wonder how well people get to know and learn about each other? How are newcomers introduced virtually to Buddhism? Some of these zoom groups have between 40 and in some webinars 10,000 virtual attendees! Can you imagine Shariputra teaching on zoom and meeting members in breakout groups, unmuting yourself to ask a question? Responding on screen in a type of ‘edited reality’ can be a barrier rather than a bridge to building trust and communication. At the same time, there can be many benefits from making connections with others in that way, especially for those who are housebound or living in isolation.

Virtual reality can be viewed as neither good nor bad, it’s challenges can be addictive, obsessional and a distraction from the reality of daily life. I observe this in many as their mobile phone appears to have become part of their hand, with continual texting and surfing Facebook or other social media, often seemingly oblivious to what is happening around them. Being mindful of choosing virtual options aligned with the values and principles of non-harming can be difficult, but can be part of helping to deepen practice, so, even online sangha has the potential to be wholesome with wise discernment.

This brings me back to the importance of the communities in which we belong and being vigilant to remember to prioritise self-enquiry in relation to how we express our daily practice. In my view accepting differences and trying to contribute by sharing truths in an appropriate, open and translucent way is beneficial and a treasure for everyone.