Indeed, in the Vinaya Discipline, a member of the Sangha is defined as someone who has left the life of a householder and taken the all the monastic vows as decreed within the Vinaya Discipline. The breaking of these vows either attracts reforming behaviour, or expulsion from the order. However, the Vinaya Discipline also defines a ‘member of the Sangha’ as someone who has ‘realised emptiness’ irrespective as to whether they have renounced the lay-life.
Tag: meditation
Master Xu Yun: The Importance of Being a Lay-Buddhist
Having established these facts, it is important to understand that a realised monastic is not limited to his or her social role, and that realised members of lay society are equally not limited to their role. There exists enlightened freedom that functions through specific social roles, but which remains completely ‘free’ of any limitations as defined by those roles.
When Class Enemies ‘Meditate’
The bourgeoisie misrepresent Buddhism and represent the very class privilege that the Buddha thoroughly rejected and transcended. This is because the bourgeoisie are ‘attached’ to an image of being ‘Buddhist’ that has no bearing in reality. For a bourgeois to truly become a Buddhist, he or she must fully reject the very ignorance that has historically given them their privileged life-style at the expense of the working class.
The Rise of Western-inspired Buddho-Fascism
The Buddha may have been the first spiritual teacher to overtly base his teaching upon anti-racism. A true Buddhist harbours no hate in either mind
Buddha Opposed Religious Ignorance
This photograph does not offend me in the same manner as racism, or social inequality. In fact it does not offend me at all. Religious
Sitting Monk in Vietnam
A Vietnamese monk who died around 300 years ago still sits in meditation.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 