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The Happiness of the Sangha
The monastic retreat at Phuong Khe Inner Monastery is the second retreat, lasting six days, during which the Sangha—as a body composed of cells (heart, brain, liver, lungs, intestines)—nourishes and cares for one another through the practice of Shining Light, mindfulness, and healing the “wounds” of body and mind. Each day is a step up towards heaven and earth, where every member has the right to fully enjoy happiness in the present moment. Especially, on the second day, there is a Sangha meeting with the following purposes:
- to create a space for sharing with mindfulness and concentration so that collective insight can arise—not to collect individual opinions, but to allow the collision and resonance that brings forth new understanding
- to design the practice activities and the retreat, like “designing a retreat,” based on the shared experience and creativity of the whole Sangha
- to renew the forms of chanting, Dharma discussion, and tea meditation so that the Dharma doors remain fresh and alive
In the Sangha, each member has the responsibility to nourish themselves with each step, each breath, each smile; and at the same time, to care for one another, because self-nourishment and nourishing the community are not separate. The energy of the store consciousness—the deep ground of the mind—is entrusted to bear flowers and fruits of insight, even when we are sleeping or engaged in daily work. The Sangha meeting is not just a discussion, but a miracle “collision” of insights, opening up collective wisdom, helping the Sangha to become more solid, harmonious, and full of happiness.
