WHAT IS A SANGHA?

“Sangha” means “the community of monks, nuns, novices, and laypeople that follow the Buddha’s teachings.” It is our spiritual community–a group of people who are on the same path.  As a Sangha we are a support and a refuge for one another. In fact, Sangha is one of the Three Refuges of Buddhism, along with the Buddha–not only the historical teacher, Buddha Shakyamuni, but also our own enlightened Buddha-nature–and the Dharma, which are the teachings of the Buddha.

SANGHA SITS

Monday Evening, July 6, 2026 at 5:30 5:30 p.m. on ZOOM

AND

Thursday Evening, July 9, 2026 5:30 p.m.

 In Person at The Body Based Mindfulness Center

This week we will begin our study of Stephen Batchelor’s book Buddhism Without Beliefs. Please read the first chapter, Awakening, that begins, “Let’s go back to the beginning: to the awakening of Siddhartha Gautama, aka the Tathagata, Shakyamuni, The World Honored One–the Buddha himself. He was the one who set the Wheel of Dharma spinning in the first place. He was the one who pointed out that the central path (the famous “Middle Way”). He was the trailblazer. His are the footprints we will find at the end of the track.”

 HERE’S THE ZOOM INFORMATION FOR MONDAY AT 5:30:

MEETING ID: 826 8659 1987/PASSCODE: 065090

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JULY SELF-DIRECTED METTA PRACTICE

For the month of July we will practice Metta–Lovingkindness or Unconditional Friendliness– together. Metta is the first of the Four Divine Abidings. The other three are Karuna (compassion),  Mudita (sympathetic joy) and Upeksha (equanimity). 

This will be Metta for ourselves–exclusively… a self-directed Metta Practice everyday. Practice as long as feels comfortable and possible. Practice at any time. Practice whenever you feel the need to offer yourself Metta. 

We can support one another over the month by checking in with each other. We’re all busy and it’s often difficult to remember that we have a commitment to a certain practice. So, think of someone–in the sangha or out–that could help you remember to practice loving kindness for yourself daily. 

If there’s someone in the sangha you’d like to check in with and you don’t have their email address(es), let me know and I’ll connect you. I don’t want to open the entire list without your permission. 

Another sangha member sent me this, saying that it resonates deeply with her:

May I be at peace. May my heart be open. May I know the joy of my own true being. May I be healed. May I be a source of healing in the world. May I know love.