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Taking Hold of the Power to Move Forward
The third meeting of the sangha at YMCA Camp continued the practice of reflecting on what has been lived, heard, seen, and practiced during the journey. The previous two meetings at Stonehill College and Garrett Divinity School helped the community to heal wounds, develop trust in the sangha, and find ways to strengthen the life of the sangha body. The retreat for law enforcement officers in California opened up new opportunities for Dharma teaching and mutual training so that both teacher and students could grow together, emphasizing that the journey is not only about working but also about training.
The most important factor is to build a strong, autonomous monastic sangha without needing intervention from the Teacher, thanks to the application of the “tac phap yet ma” procedure – all decisions related to community life are made by the council of fully ordained members. Currently, there are eight monasteries (Vững Chãi, Trong Sáng, Sơn Hạ, Xóm Thượng, Rừng Phong, Thanh Sơn, Từ Nghiêm, Cam Lộ) at about 35–50% capacity for self-governance; the common goal is to surpass 50%, moving toward 70% so that the sangha can flow like a river in one direction, nourishing brotherhood and transmitting insight to the younger generation.
In the practice of living together, each member must take initiative in mindfulness of breathing, mindful steps, and mindful feelings, avoiding the position of being a victim. The three basic principles of the sangha meeting are:
- All opinions are received, but the final decision rests in the hands of the fully ordained members
- The minority must follow the majority once consensus has been reached
- Avoid saying “they” and only use “we,” “the sangha,” as oneself in order to form a strong community
Bringing Buddhism into Western Society