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A practice inspired by the teachings of Buddhism in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh
Sangha Arana practices in the tradition of the Vietnamese Zen monk, Thich Nhat Hanh (called Thây by his students). Because in Thây’s tradition there is much space for ways to practice loving-kindness and compassion, our membership is comprised of Buddhist and secular practitioners.
Our meditation evenings do include practices such as bowing, chanting, recitation of sutras, etc. and all practitioners are invited to share in the joy of the liturgy. Those who wish to simply offer support during these moments stand or sit in respectful silence which is a skillful way to participate in sangha.
What is a Sangha ?
Sangha is a practice of being together as a community "in harmony and awareness". It is a place where we work on transforming the concepts and actions which limit us.
Society has so much momentum in the direction of forgetfulness that we need the support of friends to help us keep in touch with our deepest desire to love and help all beings. With a sangha it is much easier to practice because the collective energy of mindfulness is strong and the opportunity to cultivate skillful ways of living is always present.
The essence of a sangha is the cultivation of awareness. A sangha supports our aspiration to live with wisdom and in mindfulness and concentration. In sangha, we are nourished, given the space to heal our woundedness, and transform our suffering. When we look deeper into sangha, we realize that the real intention of being in sangha is the process - at times, quite demanding and challenging - of transforming our whole being. True sangha offers an environment for spiritual growth, relaxed and gentle, but deep and thorough.
Enso 2004
Practising with Sangha Arana
To participate in sangha, simply contact us by email prior to your first visit.
Please be aware that most of our members are health care professionals and must abide by their profession’s regulations related to confidentiality and boundary crossing. It is the responsibility of all members to ensure that applicable legal and professional boundaries are respected and honoured.
Please read the documents in the Practices page for more information about the sangha.
