What is Sangha?

Sangha, a net­work of friendships

Sangha means spir­itual com­munity, so the Manchester Buddhist Centre Sangha includes any­one who prac­tises with the Triratna Buddhist Community and comes to the Centre regularly

Our Sangha is made up of ordained mem­bers of the Triratna Buddhist Order, mitras, and friends who have not made any formal com­mit­ment but have com­pleted some Buddhism and med­it­a­tion courses here and feel involved with the Centre’s activ­it­ies and values.

Sangha is essen­tially a net­work of friend­ship in which we try to com­mu­nic­ate and share our efforts to become more than we cur­rently are. A level of trust can build up because we know that other mem­bers of the Sangha are at least try­ing to be eth­ical, to be aware of them­selves and oth­ers, to express metta, or loving-kindness.

Manchester pilgrimage to Bodhgaya, India

Our Sangha isn’t per­fect — it is only when all indi­vidu­als have achieved a pro­found level of wis­dom, and thus free­dom from ego, that the Sangha finds its ulti­mate poten­tial. But even so, this side of Enlightenment it’s pretty good! The Sangha is the real heart of the Buddhist centre — without it, it is simply a build­ing.
Manchester FWBO Day with Mahasukha leading us in singing

Walking group at Stanage Edge

What is a mitra?

Mitra is an Indian word for friend. Here, it refers to those who have made a formal com­mit­ment to prac­tising Buddhism within the con­text of the Manchester Buddhist Centre and the Triratna Buddhist Community, in a simple ceremony.

More inform­a­tion

Study

Many friends and mitras are involved in study groups at the Centre

Buddhist Centre football match

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