The Sangha is the community of all the people (nuns, monks and laypeople) who practise zazen together in the European school of Zen Buddhism, which grew out of the Japanese S\u00f4t\u00f4 school of Zen Buddhism, under the spiritual direction of Master Kaisen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the Buddhist tradition, the Sangha is, alongside the Buddha and the Dharma, one of the Three Jewels. This means that we rely on it in our practice, that it is the basis of our practice and that we take refuge in it. To put it simply, by practising together (on a daily basis in the centres of each city, during regular sesshins and longer summer and winter retreats), it is easier for us to keep a clear direction and determination on our Way. We can support each other, inspire each other, and we are often a 'mirror' for each other, in which it is easier to see our disruptive tendencies and selfishness. By acting together, sharing responsibilities and work, and spending many hours 'sitting' side by side on the meditation cushions, closer relationships are created. This greatly supports the practice and helps to develop generosity and get rid of selfishness by acting for the common good. The practice is very individual (each of us sits alone) and at the same time communal - this is the paradox and the strength of the Sangha, which we feel more and more clearly as the years go by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Within the Sangha, the classical structure and hierarchy, linked to the age of the practice, are preserved - there is a Master, around whom monks, bodhisattvas and laypeople gather. Those who have been practising for longer are a source of knowledge and inspiration for beginners. Sometimes the teachings are transmitted in formal structures, but often they are transmitted naturally, through being together, acting and discussing. On the spiritual path, many obstacles arise and in solitary practice, it's easy to become entangled in one's own imaginings and lost, whereas the support of the Sangha and contact with more experienced people can help you find your way back. Another interesting aspect is that, among fellow practitioners, it no longer matters who you are in life, what your character is, your habits, your work, your style of dress, etc. We are all equal, sitting together. We are all equal, sitting together for meditation in similar dark clothes. This allows us to experience a freedom that is difficult to obtain in everyday life, a freedom from all those external things that define and construct our identity, and to concentrate on what is inside, on spiritual practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is important to act in a common spirit and to harmonise, and this is helped by rules and customs, which may seem a little strange to Westerners at first. We should accept them as they are, because they have a meaning and concrete reasons - they are a great help in practice. In the \"Rules for the Community of Buddhist Monks\", D\u00f4gen, the founder of the S\u00f4t\u00f4 Zen school, says: \"(...) when the great assembly of monks meditates sitting down, sit down with them. When the great assembly lies down, lie down too. When you move and stand still, act like the great assembly; in life and death, don't stray from the bunch of grass and the grove of trees. Putting yourself forward brings no benefit, and being different from the assembly cannot be a model of conduct. For the assembly is the skin, flesh, bones and marrow of the Buddhas and patriarchs, it is the abandonment of the body-and-mind of the 'I'.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given that the Sangha, as a group of different people, has a social dimension, it is obvious that difficulties of all kinds, resulting from differences in character, sometimes arise. However, the basis remains mutual respect and a common understanding of the essence of zazen. The expression of this is the gassho<\/em> (bowing), which we do after each meditation, thanking each other. We also greet and leave each other in this way, expressing respect, humility and gratitude for the value of being able to practise together.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" La Sangha est la communaut\u00e9 de toutes les personnes (nonnes, moines et la\u00efcs) qui pratiquent ensemble zazen dans l’\u00e9cole europ\u00e9enne du bouddhisme Zen, issue de l’\u00e9cole japonaise du bouddhisme Zen […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":308,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-zen"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n