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The Sangha, the Jewel-Boat of True Happiness
The Sangha is a jewel, a “boat” which, through its collective energy, supports us in transformation and healing: each one practices for themselves and for all, brothers and sisters walking in mindfulness, breathing mindfully and sharing presence. Taking refuge in the Sangha means welcoming our suffering and despair in order to transform them, and building together a radiant community, where monks, nuns, and lay practitioners work for peace and joy in the world.
Happiness is different from joy:
- Joy: the excitement of anticipation (seeing an oasis in the desert).
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Happiness: the fullness of the present moment (drinking the cool water of the oasis).
It does not depend on external conditions (house, salary, health) but on the inner source: mindfulness (smṛti), the energy that brings us back to our body and opens us to the wonders of the present moment. Walking, breathing, eating, or massaging our legs in mindfulness is to touch the Kingdom of God, the Pure Land of the Buddha, and to taste happiness here and now.
The practice at Plum Village is to cultivate (bhāvanā) mindfulness, concentration (samādhi), and insight (prajñā):
- bringing the mind back to the body with each in-breath and out-breath
- walking in mindfulness (“I have arrived, I am home”)
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transforming the mind, sowing seeds of compassion, love, and joy
This is how each of us becomes a Buddha-to-be, sons and daughters of God, free and alive to serve life and its wonders.
