Sangha
The Buddhist monastic and noble community, third refuge.
Saṅgha or saṃgha is a term meaning "association", "assembly", "company" or "community". In a political context, it was historically used to denote a governing assembly in a republic or a kingdom, and for a long time, it has been used by religious associations, including Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. Given this history, some Buddhists have stated that the tradition of the sangha represents humanity's oldest surviving democratic institution. In Buddhism, sangha refers to the monastic communities of bhikkhu (monks) and bhikkhuni (nuns), as well as, in some interpretations, the community of enlightened individuals known as the āryasaṅgha ("noble Sangha").
- field
- Religious community
- known_for
- Third of the Three Refuges in Buddhism; monastic orders preserving Buddha's teachings
- type
- Monastic and noble assembly
- associated_traditions
- Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
Lore & Background
The Sangha was originally established by Gautama Buddha in the fifth century BCE to provide a means for those who wish to practice full-time in a direct and highly disciplined way, free from the restrictions and responsibilities of the household life. The Sangha also fulfils the function of preserving the Buddha's original teachings and of providing spiritual support for the Buddhist lay-community. In Buddhism, the Sangha is the third of the Three Refuges. Common over all schools is that the āryasaṅgha is the foremost form of this third jewel. The Theravada school and Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism reserve the term sangha for individuals they regard as being enlightened, while the Theravada school uses the term parisā ("assembly") or catuparisā ("fourfold assembly") to refer to the bhikkhu, bhikkhunī, upāsaka, and upāsikā as a collective. Mahayana practitioners may use the word "sangha" as a collective term for all Buddhists.
Reader's Guide
The Sangha has historically assumed responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the doctrine as well as the translation and propagation of the teachings of the Buddha. Monks and nuns generally own a minimum of possessions due to their samaya as renunciants, including three robes, an alms bowl, a cloth belt, a needle and thread, a razor for shaving the head, and a water filter. Traditionally, Buddhist monks, nuns, and novices eschew ordinary clothes and wear robes, with colors varying by community: saffron for Theravada groups; blue, grey or brown for Mahayana Sangha members in Vietnam; maroon in Tibetan Buddhism; grey in Korea; and black in Japan. The Sangha's legacy includes its role as the "unsurpassed field of merit for the world" and its preservation of the Buddha's original teachings. The interpretation of what constitutes the Jewel of the Sangha is often dependent on how a school defines Sangha. In many schools, monastic life is considered to provide the safest and most suitable environment for advancing toward enlightenment and liberation due to the temptations and vicissitudes of life in the world.
Did You Know?
- The term sangha was historically used in a political context to denote a governing assembly in a republic or a kingdom.
- Some Buddhists have stated that the tradition of the sangha represents humanity's oldest surviving democratic institution.
- The Theravada school uses the term parisā ("assembly") for the larger Buddhist community, reserving "sangha" for enlightened individuals.
- In the Pali Canon, the Buddha rejected a suggestion by Devadatta to impose vegetarianism on the sangha.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sangha actually mean in Buddhist usage?
Sangha is a Pali and Sanskrit word that fundamentally means 'assembly,' 'company,' or 'community.' In everyday Buddhist language it most often points to the ordained monastic order of monks and nuns, though the term can stretch to cover a wider circle of practitioners.
Who exactly belongs to the Sangha?
At the narrowest level, the Sangha is the bhikkhu and bhikkhuni orders living under the Vinaya code of discipline. In the 'noble Sangha' sense, it extends to any being who has reached at least stream-entry, so arhats and bodhisattvas are included alongside ordinary monks and nuns.
Why is Sangha listed as one of the Three Refuges (Three Jewels)?
Taking refuge in the Sangha means anchoring your practice in a living community that guards, teaches, and embodies the Dharma. Without that communal structure, the Buddha's instructions would have no ongoing vehicle for study, discipline, and transmission to new generations.
Does the Sangha include laypeople, or is it strictly monastic?
The 'greater Sangha' (mahāsaṅgha) refers specifically to the fully ordained monastic body, while the 'lesser Sangha' (parisā) designates the lay follower community. The noble-Sangha interpretation, however, cuts across both: any practitioner who has attained a path fruit is counted, whether or not they wear robes.
What makes the Sangha's governance different from a typical religious hierarchy?
Decisions within the monastic Sangha are made through formal communal voting procedures outlined in the Vinaya, rather than being handed down by a single supreme authority. This assembly-based model is the reason some Buddhists describe the tradition as one of the oldest surviving democratic institutions in the world.
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