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Understanding the Sangha in Buddhism: Layers, Community, and Enlightenment Paths

The Sangha is a vital concept in Buddhism, encompassing various meanings. It refers to the worldwide community of Buddhists, particularly the monastic community. There is also the Aryasangha, which includes all enlightened Buddhists, both lay and monastic. Within Theravada Buddhism, there are four stages of enlightenment: Stream-enterer, Once-returner, Non-returner, and Arhat. Each stage represents a profound understanding of the Dharma, with the Arhat being fully enlightened and free from the cycle of rebirth. Discover the significance and roles within the Sangha.

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Understanding the Sangha in Buddhism: Layers, Community, and Enlightenment Paths

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  1. Buddhism: The Means The Sangha

  2. The Sangha • This has several layers of meaning: • Worldwide community of Buddhists • The monastic community in general • A monastic community (Like Samye Ling) • The Aryasangha

  3. The Sangha • The Aryasangha • This includes all Buddhists (both lay and monastic) who have reached enlightenment. • Sometimes called the ‘noble sangha’.

  4. Mahayana Bodhisattvas • Having attained liberation, arya bodhisattvas can: • Live as long as they wish. • Enter and arise from limitless types of meditation. • Find everything they need. • Be born whenever and wherever they wish. • They can go to any pure-land Buddha-field that they wish. • Understand all the words and meanings of the Dharma.

  5. Therevada • In the Therevada tradition there are four stages of enlightenment: • Stream-enterer. • Once-returner. • Non-returner. • Arhat.

  6. Therevada • Stream-enterer. • The stream-enterer is said to have "opened the eye of the Dharma". • A stream-enterer will reach arhatshipwithin seven rebirths. • The stream-enterer has attained perfect understanding of several aspects of the Dhamma including ‘right view’ and has complete confidence in The Three Jewels. • A Stream-enterer will not be reborn in any world lower than the human.

  7. Therevada • Once-returner. • They may have more than one rebirth still to go but only one as a human. • The once-returner has weakened the hold that the Three Root Poisons have over him/her to a greater degree than a stream-enterer.

  8. Therevada • Non-returner. • Non-returners will not be reborn as a human. • They are reborn in one of the five "Pure Abodes", and will attain Nibbana from there.

  9. Therevada • Arhat. • Requires no further training. • Is a fully enlightened person. • Upon death they will never be reborn in any world, having completely escaped Samsara. This is called parinibbana.

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