What does a sangha need?
A spiritual community that is healthy and sustainable depends on:
Mutual care and concern for each other
Growth-producing relationships
Moral and ethical integrity: imbued in the community from the top down. Explicit teaching of precepts and moral foundations
Appropriate social architectures
For teaching and learning
For management
For leadership and governance
For development and evolution of individuals and the community
Distribution: of power, resources, attention, and energy, diversity of membership
Embodiment: physical presence, place, activity, interaction
Enaction: of forms, practices, ceremonies, social interaction, meetings, connection, and care
Emergence: organic, wise, ecosystem evolution with intention. Meeting challenges and change as opportunities for growth and learning together. The story of community is co-authored by its members.
Transmission
Traditional teachings, forms, practices, roles, wisdom, and ethical conduct
Techne: skillful means for practice, relating, management, teaching and learning, use of technology, methods, leadership
Governance: bylaws, policies, procedures, social structures such as Boards and Councils
Power: Formal authorizations, Right Use of Power, everyday uses of power, community conversations, shared culture and language for attending to power dynamics. Power as explicit, open topic without shame or blame; feedback as constructive, supportive, and developmental.
Leadership: wisdom, compassion and care
Roles
Councils
Board
Practice Periods and Head Students
Lay Teacher Entrustment
Dharma Transmission
Engagement: Active participation, support, care, vision, willingness, relationality of members
This is a start in developing a kind of framework to help spiritual communities—sanghas—thrive and evolve so that they can serve not only their own members, but all being. Of course there are many other elements that play an important part; but these the ones I was reflecting on this morning.