starting a sangha

in the plum village tradition

  • what is a sangha

  • most important

  • flowing together

  • aspiration

  • non sangha

  • two friends

  • technology

  • energy

  • practices

The First Element

the power of sangha

what is the most important thing I can do to build sangha?

What is a Sangha

A sangha is a community of friends practicing the dharma together in order to bring about and to maintain awareness. The essence of a sangha is awareness, understanding, acceptance, harmony and love.

In order for us to develop some roots, we need the kind of environment that can help us become rooted. A sangha is not a community of practice in which each person is an island, unable to communicate with each other. A true sangha should be like a family in which there is a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood.

The sangha is a wonderful home. Every time you go back to the sangha, you feel that you can breathe more easily, you can walk more mindfully, you can better enjoy the blue sky, the white clouds and the cypress tree in your yard.

When we sit together as a sangha, we enjoy the collective energy of mindfulness, and each of us allows the mindful energy of the sangha to penetrate us. Even if you don’t do anything, if you just stop thinking and allow yourself to absorb the collective energy of the sangha, it’s very healing.

— excerpts from friends on the path

The Most Important Thing

The most important thing to do in order to build a Sangha is to become the first element of the Sangha. A good, excellent element of the Sangha.

We know that a Sangha is made only of non-Sangha elements. We should look around to identify the non-Sangha elements and invite them over in order to create a Sangha.

We ourselves, the Sangha builders, should be the first element. So the most important thing is to breathe in mindfully, to enjoy our in-breath, to walk mindfully and to try to do everything with love and compassion, become fresh, loving. People look at you and they like to join the practice. 

That is the beginning of a good Sangha.

Together

Our aspiration is to support online practice communities in the plum village tradition. In other words, supporting sangha builders, build sangha. 

Our hope is this handbook supports your efforts to build your practice community. It is a living document, bringing you the collective wisdom of others who have walked this path before you. Please pick and choose what is helpful and let go of the rest. We invite you to share any insights, comments or questions with us so you too can support those following in your footsteps. You might also like to browse other plum village sangha building handbooks.

Plumline hosts a social space where sangha builders can cultivate togetherness, supporting one another and sharing experiences. There are also regular online meetings for those looking for a deeper connection.

We provide resources for online facilitation such as a songbook, digital bell sounds and supporting material for ceremonies. From time to time training sessions are offered for sangha builders.

there is no way to happiness, happiness is the way

Other Elements

Aspiration

Attending sangha can be a real joy, coming together with friends on the path, practicing, studying the teachings and sharing from our hearts. 

It may be helpful to take a moment to explore what is moving you to start a new sangha. Are you wishing to support your path of practice by walking with others? Or perhaps you’re hoping to reduce the suffering in the world through supporting others? Maybe it’s both, maybe it’s something else.

What sort of Sangha are you wishing to build? A traditional one where friends come together to practice, learn and share. Or maybe a sangha focused on a particular practice such as chanting or silent meditation. Perhaps you would like to bring together friends with a particular affinity, such as caregivers, teachers or socially engaged. 

Can you fulfil your aspiration by joining an existing group?

Having clarity not only helps guide our steps, it also keeps us on the path when obstacles arise.

Two Friends

You only need to find one friend on the path of practice to enjoy the fruits of sangha.

We can support your efforts to find your initial members by emailing the 2,000 friends on the plumline distribution list. Sanghas typically receive 15-30 responses from these emails.

We can also raise ongoing awareness of your group by listing it on the website directory.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to grow your group. If you find your emotions going up and down with the attendance, it might help to remember two people is all that’s needed for a sangha.

Non Sangha Elements

The next step is to set the session frequency and duration, as well as the day/time for the meetings. Caregivers Sangha, for example, meet weekly on Thursdays at 8pm, for 75 minutes.

The platform of choice for most online sanghas at the moment is zoom – plumline may be able to help with the license. You may wish to use another platform, it’s really up to you.

You may like to set up an email distribution list (the simplest option), an email group (eg google groups) or a social space (eg whatsapp). These steps can help cultivate togetherness outside of the meetings.

Don’t be too discouraged if people inquire but don’t turn up. From our experience, around one in ten people making an inquiry, turn up to the meeting. Of these, around one in four stay with the group.

Session Schedule

There are no rules about what to do in a sangha meeting. The teachings and practices that support one group’s transformation, may not be helpful for another. Most important is offering our own solidity, peace and joy, and trusting that all will be well. The sangha will hold you as you learn and grow. The imperfections often strengthen our sense of togetherness.

Some facilitators find it useful to pre-plan the session. You may wish to approach this in a loose way or be quite detailed. You may like to experiment with the session plan, starting with a few practices that everyone is comfortable with and taking it from there.

To help cultivate togetherness, you might like to share some of the facilitation responsibilities with other members. You might, for example, invite someone to lead the guidance, while another person can read the teaching.

Some sanghas have two (or more) co-facilitators for each session. One might take primary responsibility for technology (eg screen sharing) while the other focuses on guiding the group.

If you’re unsure how to start, you are welcome to use this 75 minute session offered by the caregivers sangha. It requires minimal technology (no screen sharing). Alternatively, you can use this script for the first meeting.. 

After a few times, your confidence will grow allowing you to take it in whatever direction feels appropriate.

Sample Schedule

05  welcome
15   meditation
20  teaching
30   sharing
05   close