Transcript Buddhism and the Sangha

Buddhism and the
Sangha
Relationship between monastics and
the lay community
What do the lay community do for the
monks?
Basic support for the
monks
 Material
gifts e.g. provision of:-
 Food
 Clothing
 Medicines
 Shelter
Support for the monastery
 People
from the local community
support the monks at the monastery
by: Volunteering to clean, cook, do the
gardening, go shopping and carry out
building maintenance
Other issues
The vassa or rainy season involves a retreat by
the monks. They restrict their movements and
remain by and large in the monastery grounds.
They will chant, meditate and study the
dhamma more.
 Some lay people can become temporarily
ordained for this period and there are Kathina
ceremonies at the end of the rainy season.
 Here the whole lay community will go to the
monastery bearing gifts of fruit, flowers, new
robes and other gifts and everyone will join
together to eat, drink and share their news
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Shared beliefs
The pursuit of the religious goal is worthwhile
The pursuit of the spiritual goal is a supreme thing to do
 It has continued uninterrupted in South – East Asia for
over 2500 years
 It applies Buddhist values:- non – violence and nonharming
 It champions environmental projects
 Generosity is not abused
 Economically supporting the monastic Sangha allows
them to engage full time in this way of life
 There is an understanding that the Sangha are materially
dependent on the lay people for their ultimate survival
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The situation today
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Some regions in Asia have found problems
The dominance of materialistic views and communism
have challenged the monastic and lay life to the limit
Communism in some areas have suggested the monks
are ‘social parasites’
Communist regimes have tried to get rid of Buddhist
monastic communities. They have destroyed the
monasteries and killed the monks. They have forced
them to disrobe and become householders.
This has primarily happened in China, Cambodia, North
Korea, Tibet and Mongolia.
Today there are signs of Buddhist revivals in some of
these countries.