The White Lotus Sangha
The Sangha and the White Lotus.
The Sangha:
In the Buddhist tradition the Sangha is considered one of the three gems, (the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha). Originally the term “Sangha” only referred to the monastic community, but today Sangha refers equally as well to the Buddhist community at large. Since every one within the Sangha is following the same practice, our individual practice and learning becomes much stronger and easier, and an energy within the Sangha is produced which is nurtured and strengthened by the support of other Sangha members.
The White Lotus.
We adopted the white lotus as a symbol for our Sangha, because just as the lotus grows with its roots firmly set in muddy water and its flower rising above the surface of the water to bloom with remarkable beauty, so the lotus flower is used in Buddhism as a metaphor for the development and progression of mankind from the deep suffering in our daily lives to the aspiration and achievement of enlightenment for all sentient beings.
The Sangha:
In the Buddhist tradition the Sangha is considered one of the three gems, (the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha). Originally the term “Sangha” only referred to the monastic community, but today Sangha refers equally as well to the Buddhist community at large. Since every one within the Sangha is following the same practice, our individual practice and learning becomes much stronger and easier, and an energy within the Sangha is produced which is nurtured and strengthened by the support of other Sangha members.
The White Lotus.
We adopted the white lotus as a symbol for our Sangha, because just as the lotus grows with its roots firmly set in muddy water and its flower rising above the surface of the water to bloom with remarkable beauty, so the lotus flower is used in Buddhism as a metaphor for the development and progression of mankind from the deep suffering in our daily lives to the aspiration and achievement of enlightenment for all sentient beings.
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The Sangha