START & SUSTAIN A SANGHA
Creating and sustaining secular Buddhist community
The Vietnamese Zen Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh once said that ‘the next Buddha will be a sangha’. Secular Buddhists believe that creating and sustaining democratic sanghas is crucial not just for individual transformation but to promoting an egalitarian culture of awakening in which all beings can flourish. If you have any questions or would like assistance and advice on setting up and running a successful secular dharma community, send us a message through the form on the Contact page.
On this page, you will find recommended reading to introduce and explore the subject, and more articles written by a number of writers that will help you to dig deeper.
RECOMMENDED READING
Creating a Buddhist community – connections that work
Stephen Batchelor explains how ‘community is not something you join or something that you find. It’s something you create. Community is a practice of … forging and developing connections and friendships and relationships.’
By Stephen Batchelor
Four bonds of fellowship that help build community
Martine Batchelor discusses the four bonds of fellowship that help build community at a Gaia House talk. What are these four bonds? Generosity, kind words, beneficial help and consistency.
By Martine Batchelor
Dharma and community for meditators
Winton Higgins has written extensively about democratic communities and the development of secular Buddhism. In this article Winton offers some defining characteristics of a democratic sangha.
By Winton Higgins
Bringing secular dharma practitioners together
Ramsey Margolis sets out his experience of creating and sustaining a secular dharma community in Aotearoa New Zealand, and offers some practical tips on how to make one work.
By Ramsey Margolis
EXPLORE SANGHA & COMMUNITY
