sangha - Qualities of the Sangha, Monastic tradition, Ordination process, Women's role in the Sangha

The community of bhikkus - those who have formally committed themselves to pursuing the Buddhist way of life and to living in accord with the set of rules known as the Patimokkha. It began with the first disciples of Buddha, and remains influential and widespread today.

This article concerns the concept of Sangha in Buddhism.

Part of a series on Buddhism

History of Buddhism Dharmic religions Timeline of Buddhism Buddhist councils

Foundations Four Noble Truths Noble Eightfold Path The Five Precepts Nirvāna · Three Jewels

Key Concepts Three marks of existence Skandha · Cosmology · Dharma Samsara · Rebirth · Shunyata Pratitya-samutpada · Karma

Major Figures Gautama Buddha Buddha's Disciples · Family

Practices and Attainment Buddhahood · Bodhisattva Four Stages of Enlightenment Paramis · Meditation · Laity

Buddhism by Region Southeast Asia · East Asia Tibet · India · Western

Schools of Buddhism Theravāda · Mahāyāna Vajrayāna · Early schools

Texts Pali Canon Pali Suttas · Mahayana Sutras Vinaya · Abhidhamma

Comparative Studies Culture · List of Topics Portal: Buddhism This box: view • talk • edit

Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly". Traditionally, in Buddhism sangha almost always has one of two meanings: most commonly, sangha means the monastic sangha of ordained Buddhist monks or nuns.

Qualities of the Sangha

In Buddhism, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha each are described as having certain characteristics. In Theravada tradition they are a part of daily chanting:

The Sangha: "The Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples (Savakas) is:

practicing the good way practicing the upright way practicing the knowledgeable or logical way practicing the proper way;

that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals - This Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is :

worthy of gifts worthy of hospitality worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation the unsurpassed field of merit for the world."

Monastic tradition

The sangha of monks and the sangha of nuns were originally established by Gautama Buddha in the 5th century BCE, with the goal preserving the teachings, reinforcing discipline, and serving as an example for the laity.

The key feature of Buddhist monasticism is the adherence to the vinaya which contains an elaborate set of rules of conduct including complete chastity and eating only before noon.

Monks and nuns may own only the barest minimum of possessions (ideally, three robes, an alms bowl, a cloth belt, a needle and thread, a razor for shaving the head, and a water filter).

Traditionally, Buddhist monastics eschew ordinary clothes and wear robes. The color of modern robes varies from community to community (orange is characteristic for southeast Asian Theravada groups, maroon in Tibet, gray in Korea, etc.)

The word which is usually translated as monk is bhikkhu in Pali or bhikshu in Sanskrit.

The idea that all Buddhists, especially monks and nuns practice vegetarianism is a Western misperception.

The lay community is responsible for the production of goods and services in society, and for the production and raising of children.

The distinction between Sangha and lay persons has always been important and forms the Purisa, Buddhist community.

Ordination process

Samanera

When a young man aspires to join the sangha of monks, a bhikkhu will first ordain him as a samanera (novice) either for a year or until the age of 20.

Samaneri

A young woman should be ordained, according to Theravada tradition, by both a monk and a nun, first as a samaneri.

Within Chinese society, as an example, members of the Sangha are expected to renounce family connections and accept the Sangha as their family.

Women's role in the Sangha

Although always maintaining that women were just as capable to attain enlightenment as men, the canonical texts depict the Buddha as being reluctant to permit women to join the Sangha.

There have been several theories regarding the Buddha's reluctance to ordain women, including the possibility that it was due to fears that a community of women would not be safe in the society of his day.

Before the modern era, the Bhikkhuni Sangha spread to most Buddhist countries including Burma, with the notable exceptions being Tibet and Thailand.

In recent decades, there has been a serious attempt to revive the Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha with the assistance of Mahayana bhikkhunis from the Chinese lineage.

Meanwhile, a similar process has produced the first fully ordained bhikkhunis in Tibetan Buddhism, where only the novice ordination for bhikkhunis existed.