Sangha's Transcendent Power: A Path to Healing

Can the ancient Buddhist concept of Sangha, a community of like-minded individuals, offer a transformative force for personal growth and well-being in our modern digital age? This episode explores the power of Sangha and its potential to impact mental health and foster spiritual growth. We discuss Sangha's evolution as a community of spiritual seekers guided by Buddha and its adaptation to the digital era. We touch upon its significant role in our holistic health and wellness journey, strengthening connections, promoting mindfulness, and emphasizing Buddha as the connecting force for development and healing.

Venturing further, we discuss how Sangha has taken the plunge into the digital world. We deliberate on the potential benefits and challenges of online communities and virtual support groups, reflecting on the importance of intention and concentration in a virtual space. We delve into how this collective wisdom can serve as a reminder in times of forgetfulness and provide support in personal development. Additionally, we discuss the universality of Sangha and its potential to open doors to a broader sense of spiritual community, fostering emotional well-being and paving the way for a transformative journey. Join us as we uncover the profound potential of Sangha in our lives.

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Explore a mindful path with Zaw Maw's coaching—Foster balance, healing, recovery, and meditation in your life's journey through his supportive and wisdom-based guidance.

Explore a mindful path with Zaw Maw's coaching—Foster balance, healing, recovery, and meditation in your life's journey through his supportive and wisdom-based guidance.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:06

Welcome to A Therapist of Buddhist In you, the podcast that explores a collective approach to health and wellness. We are brought to you by the Recovery Collective here in Annapolis, maryland. Today, we are exploring a concept that can truly transform your life and well-being. If you're seeking practical wisdom and insights for better mental health and spiritual growth, you're in the right place. In this episode, we're shining a spotlight on Sangha, a fundamental term and Buddhism that goes beyond religion and offers a sense of community support and mindfulness practices. It's a universal force that has adapted to the digital age and promotes personal growth, regardless of your faith and background. Join us as we uncover the ways in which Sangha can be a valuable addition to your holistic health and wellness journey. Discover how it enhances your mental well-being and allows you to connect with like-minded community. This is your opportunity to explore the power of unity and mindfulness in a modern context, so let's get started on your path to collective well-being. Hey Zao, good morning to you, good morning Luke, it's early, it is early.

Speaker 1: 1:10

It's, I guess, a good time to let people know it's the sun is not up yet and we are drinking coffee. So if you like what you're hearing we haven't done this in a couple of episodes like comment, and if you'd like to, you can leave a comment and even donate and that'll either buy us a coffee for next time that we record before the sun comes up or helps pay for a platform and things like that. So if you like what you hear and you make it to the end and you feel this information and content is viable, like comment on Apple Podcasts the commenting certainly helps get it to more people that are searching for this type of podcast information. But good to be here.

Speaker 2: 1:53

Good to do it again.

Speaker 1: 1:54

It's a good morning for a good talk on connection, community and sangha.

Speaker 2: 1:59

So what does it mean Buddhists? Yeah, where do we begin? Yeah, I guess there are different approaches we can take. But since you're a therapist, I'm a Buddhist. We can take the liberty of the element of community and connection, but for me the background really is sangha. Literally in our culture, in Buddhism meant or means Buddhist community or Buddhist monks. But after I have joined some American Buddhist group, here that concept is used a lot of sangha, just a spiritual community.

Speaker 1: 2:35

It's evolved over its purest of forms and meanings.

Speaker 2: 2:39

Yeah, but yeah, I guess, in the grand scheme of thing, it's just the element that has been very essential for my recovery and for my well-being. So I thought this would be a good topic for just well-being in general. So sangha, the word, it's just a bridge for us to talk about it. But for me, reflecting on my own experience, and what I think would be useful for listeners, is that connection being the source of wellness for people, because our identity is relational, like we're social animals. So alone by myself and an island of my own, it's not very great, especially for people like myself with addiction and things like that. Alone and unaided is the term that we use in 12 step of alone and unaided, powerless. But when I'm aided and not alone, that's when we're plugging to the power, that kind of concept. So that's where I want to go with this.

Speaker 1: 3:41

So yeah, a lot of support and guidance that sangha brings through community and connection the therapist and me. It's like a group therapy session for the soul In Buddhist perspective. Correct me if I'm wrong. There's a potential religious connection to this word, but it can have a spiritual perspective as well.

Speaker 2: 4:04

Yeah, I think the meaning of the word I mean that word has been around since the earlier time, before Buddhism came about, but I think the original meaning in Sanskrit or in Hinduism it's some kind of a gathering, when things connect together, it's a sangha, but in Buddhist time it literally meant a community of monks, which also there is that element of, because there are rules and regulations that monks have to follow, which to me means that there has to be a harmony. And when there is like a 12 step meeting or therapy group, there is that unseen, unspoken force that is in charge and I feel like that's the guiding force for people. Yeah, when people get together, I feel like that's where that connection comes from.

Speaker 1: 4:58

I feel like it's. I don't know if it's the original intent, but it's a word that is captured, a place where you can heal and grow and find understanding and a connection in a community, in a group. Yeah, yeah, no-transcript. Didn't that sound good? Yeah, something greater, you know well why do you think this is so crucial in today's world?

Speaker 2: 5:22

Yeah, I think that's how the internet, social media, everything was right. We're always craving for the connection, but even the internet is, it's a community looking for connection, you know. So I think it's has always been crucial for us. But it's very important For it to be a positive and harmonious group though, because it can get into the other direction, where the dark force can be the influencing factor for a community. So maybe we can touch on that a little bit, that Positive community.

Speaker 1: 5:54

So, through Tita Vada Buddhism, it's Buddha, right. That was the connecting force, that was the piece that led to that growth and that healing and that spirituality. Well, how's it evolved with where you're at today? I know you have this Buddhist perspective, but Fostering community for spiritual growth can come in a whole lot of different forms, can it?

Speaker 2: 6:18

Yeah, one of the key suggestion there is this, a sutra called Mingala Sutra, where there some elements that bring auspiciousness to, to the world, and one of the suggestion is is surrounding yourself with white wise people or surrounding yourself with good people is something that makes life auspicious and meaningful. And I guess you know we attract who we are or we attract how we're vibrating at a vibrational level. So, yeah, if that's how I think about my life today and if you are, because in Buddhism there the likeness is that People who are on the path, on the path of awakening, then there's a community. But also here now you know, recovery communities are like that too that there is that Similarity or the fact that we're in this together.

Speaker 1: 7:20

So there's that sense of connection that you're not alone, everybody's headed in the right direction and that is certainly one way that we have found that healing and growth through the, the collectiveness of recovery, community and recovery meetings with the sole intent of not dying from drugs and alcohol, but something more than that it's to Live on a hopefully a spiritual plane with spiritual principles and have as a result healing and recovery. But we get this other aspect Higher sense of self and growth and a community type setting. So 12 step meetings has certainly been something for us where we've a form of sangha.

Speaker 2: 8:03

Yeah, and it's also undeniably their Principle. Right like when we're born into this world, we have no choice but to be in a community right.

Speaker 2: 8:12

And then the first community ever is the nuclear family.

Speaker 2: 8:15

Right, you're born into a family, so there already is that sense.

Speaker 2: 8:18

But I think what is crucial and what Can be useful is to it's also one of those paradoxical thing the more you go within, the more you go outside. And I was talking to my mother at some point in my recovery. I was telling him, telling her about the recovery community that I got involved in, and Like she has no concept of like 12 steps or anything like that. But when I explained it to her, it's just all made sense to her. She was like, yeah, this is all the principles that we've been teaching you, but before you already you know it wasn't like that. But I was telling her about the friends that I do have. And then she was just saying that when you're working on yourself, going within, you end up attracting the like-minded people you know. So I think that's good news for everybody too, that that's also what I have heard too, that how do I find the best? You want to look for the vet, but just work on yourself, work on your meditation, and then teacher will find you.

Speaker 1: 9:16

I think one of my favorite things I do professionally therapeutically is my relapse prevention group that I run. I have people in that group with years of sobriety. So it's not a mandatory group, it's just something that I offer to people and it provides a place and a group dynamic where it can alleviate feeling of isolation, reduce stress, promote emotional well-being. It's with like-minded people that this group they identify. What are their spiritual principles, what's helping them? And this group dynamic really helps them. So it's one of my favorite groups because in some ways, yeah, I feel like I'm the conductor, but it's a new song every time that the group gets to identify with where they're at individually and as a unit and it's a beautiful example of community helping each other, and I love it?

Speaker 2: 10:18

Yeah, and interestingly, there's also an aspect of meditation too, is that, especially if there is a meeting as a group run for an hour? That's why I love going to meetings, although it really helps an individual to sit and listen. So when you're in a meeting, when somebody's talking, there is that unspoken rule or people already know that everybody else is quiet. You don't cross talk, things like that. So there is that, and I feel like that's also how recovery works for people. When people suggest that do 90 meetings in 90 days, things like that, that you end up sitting for that whole hour, which is almost like a meditation, that you don't say anything. Even it's your turn, you say it, but then you say it with carefully thought out words because you're talking to the group. But then when somebody's talking to, even if you're zoning out, you're kind of sitting and then listening. So there's that idea of meditation stillness too, and that's something that when I was running some groups to meditation group, we all sit in silence, but then there's that.

Speaker 1: 11:27

You're with them.

Speaker 2: 11:27

Yeah, with them it's like a shortcut that it's easier to get to that level of calmness when you're with the group because you sink into that energy.

Speaker 1: 11:39

Yeah, talk more on that the mindfulness and meditation that fosters the community and the connection, because in some ways people can feel it so isolative. I'm with myself and with my mind and with the sensations, whatever I'm thinking about and with my racing thoughts, so some people might see it in a silo or isolative, but meditation can provide. Mindfulness can provide, like you're saying, this connectedness with community and this greater part of self.

Speaker 2: 12:12

Yeah, especially if there is already some elements in that community not to like, validate and qualify, but just that if there is. That's also what I like about 12 step groups when you go to a group it's not like chaos, they already are principles that people abide by or strive for. And in Buddhism, too, the same thing, especially with the Buddhist monk community. That's how I felt when I was a monk that there are certain things that I had to do, which I don't question about following the five precepts Actually, it was more than five precepts that I had to follow and then shaving the head or in the robe.

Speaker 2: 12:50

These are all a sign of surrender, that, okay, I'm part of the group, now what do I do? That kind of get rid of the selfishness or self-centeredness in a way, and that you kind of connect with something greater. Yeah, so the mindfulness part is interesting too. When you're sitting in a meeting or even like the conversation that we're having right now, there is an aspect of relational element. Where there is Luke, there is Zaw, but there is also the connection between Luke and Zaw, which is greater. So I feel like that's the concept that can be healing and the concept that can be guiding and protective.

Speaker 1: 13:32

We've talked a little bit about how we're in this digital age. Well, sangha has had to adapt to that as well. How does this concept of Sangha extend to online communities and virtual meetings, and what can individuals gain from this?

Speaker 2: 13:50

Yeah, that's interesting with the Zoom world. Yeah, there are some people who got sober through COVID, through the virtual community.

Speaker 1: 13:59

So it is, it still blows me away. Yeah, it is possible.

Speaker 2: 14:05

So yeah, I don't know.

Speaker 1: 14:06

Internet is quite a topic To me it says there's still this ability to connect with another human being, even with distance and space. That there's if the intention is there, if the desire is to learn from, be with emphasize, grow emotionally, spiritually, if you will. That can happen with distance. I think the conditions can certainly be easier when everyone's together in the same room, obviously, but that doesn't stop the connectedness.

Speaker 2: 14:47

Yeah, I think it's more challenging from the point of view of meditation, especially from the point of view of concentration meditation that I think for a virtual community, unless you're in a very quiet and like a studio, it's easier to concentrate, but virtual community can be hit or miss. That if you're in a Zoom meeting, driving somewhere, doing grocery shopping while you're in a meeting it's more challenging to concentrate. It just makes me think of that when you talk about intention.

Speaker 1: 15:22

When.

Speaker 2: 15:22

I said the intention very single-pointed. It's easier to connect because there is more distraction when you're trying to tune in on the phone or on the computer, but when we sit together physically in a group it's easier to concentrate.

Speaker 1: 15:37

And sometimes where we're at in life that we may have physical limitations and busy schedules. So, even with that said, virtual support groups and virtual online mindfulness and meditation meetings and communities are out there online that it's still possible. We can still participate in group meditation sessions and receive spiritual guidance from practitioners from other countries, toolset meetings from all around the world that we can still connect.

Speaker 2: 16:15

Yeah, and I think I don't know if this is true for everybody, but it's true for recovery communities. They say addiction is like a forgetting disease, right? So that's also where the group becomes so crucial, when there is like an unquestionably there habitual, because we're also creatures of habit, so when there is that ritual you show up anyway and then you bring yourself out of your forgetfulness, right. And that's also another powerful thing about sangha and groups that when you forget, the group reminds you.

Speaker 1: 16:54

And I often say the smartest body part I have is my feet, because they know where they're at and my mind confuses me. One of the things that they say 12 set meetings over the second suffering. And I often tell myself and other people that I mean not suffer like I used to, but sometimes I'm pretty sick. So other people's minds and hearts can help me get to that that better part of self and less sick, less suffering, higher serenity and peace and spirituality. And when I'm siloed by myself I'm just with my sick or selfishness or irritation and I can get out of that quicker when I'm in a community of understanding people with the same goals.

Speaker 2: 17:43

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 17:44

We're wanting to do that, that look at ourselves individually and by helping others. That's one way to do that.

Speaker 2: 17:52

Yeah, it's definitely a lot harder to be selfish when you're with the group, you know.

Speaker 1: 19:14

I think sangha's unique environment allows members to learn from one another, contributing to personal development. As a therapist, I believe that collective wisdom and shared experience can empower individuals to grow and heal in realistic health. But yeah, that's what we're saying. There's this guy named Irvin Yalam and he's kind of a godfather of group work and he's got all these concepts, and one of them is universality and group therapy, which emphasizes that common human experiences can transcend individual differences, and I think that aligns with sangha's universality. That here's how I can relate with other people's parts of self, don't you think?

Speaker 2: 20:02

Definitely yeah Ability to listen, ability to help others and then connecting with that humanness like human connection.

Speaker 1: 20:15

Yeah, we share common emotional struggles. We all have some form of universal concerns that we can help each other with this recognition. But if I'm not in that group, I never know. I can't tell you how many times I hear people think they have a problem when they're in their own island. They couldn't fathom that other people are struggling or thinking or have a life complex or condition that they can't fathom, that other people are going through it. So this recognition fosters a sense of unity and understanding and doing that in a group or a therapy group is powerful. So whether it's with a therapist, with a grief group, whether it's a recovery group or some family member with special needs, whatever it might be, or illnesses, that we're not alone in that group environment kind of in a good way normalizes our individual struggles because it's not so individual.

Speaker 2: 21:18

Yeah, yeah, that is correct.

Speaker 2: 21:21

I also wanted to emphasize about the element of a true sense of spiritual community, or just a true sense of good community, is that it doesn't make you to be dependent on the group.

Speaker 2: 21:35

So it's also one of those paradoxical things that the more you stay true to the group, the more you find yourself in you, because that humaneness thing is that you start tuning into how you're feeling, based on how people are saying you relate, and then you start learning some vocabulary. You said, oh yeah, that's how you describe how you feel. But then it eventually takes you to that quiet place within which also makes you to be a good member in the group too, because it becomes more about that flow of energy. So it's because it's not about like, oh, I have to be with people all the time. But the more you stay true to the group, the more you also find solitude, that when you're sitting by yourself you feel at peace because you're not alone. So it's kind of interesting to maintain that balance, that I'm not alone by myself all the time, I'm not with the group all the time, but there is that unity and the balance between solitude and community.

Speaker 1: 22:33

You explained what I often wonderfully. You explained what I say. The more dependent I become, the more on a group on spirituality on 12 steps, the more independent I become. So when I first depend on this Sangha, this group, this program of connection and like-minded people, as a result, I become more independent. So some people feel that way about their spirituality the more I depend on my spirituality and spiritual principles and this relationship with this higher power. As a result, we can become more independent. I think you explained what I mean by that.

Speaker 2: 23:13

So thank you for that. You're welcome. Yeah, I just wanted to emphasize that because that is like a barrier for some people, or myself included, when I'm in a place of isolation, oh yeah, I don't want to confirm to the group, I want to hold on to my identity, but then that was like the hindering force. But eventually it actually kind of sharpen who you are. It makes you to be actually who you are, more than like confirmation that oh yeah, I'm going to lose my identity. It's nothing like that, it's the other way around.

Speaker 1: 23:43

What is the balance with Buddhism?

Speaker 2: 23:47

Do you?

Speaker 1: 23:47

know what I'm asking.

Speaker 2: 23:49

Yeah, can you spell it out? Just to be sure.

Speaker 1: 23:52

So you have these Buddhist principles and the enlightened Buddha, so you don't want to become dependent on I don't know what I'm asking, but you see where I'm going.

Speaker 2: 24:04

Yeah, the way I'm understanding or I don't know if this is what you're pointing at but, like, when you find a place of awakening or the wisdom, it comes with that aspect of compassion that you just want to outflow. So, like, the more you go within deep, the more you want to connect with other people too. But I think what you're also asking is also not to be dependent on the Buddha or not to be dependent on the sun.

Speaker 1: 24:29

The Sun religion, the extremists, or when does it become toxic? Or when it becomes like we were just talking about? It becomes too dependent as opposed to the independence.

Speaker 2: 24:44

Yeah, yeah, there are just so many factors to that.

Speaker 2: 24:50

The more we put like integrity or the more we put the ultimate freedom, the more we're guided right. The analogy that I've heard in Buddhist tradition is the raft. I think I've mentioned this multiple times that when you're crossing the river, you build a raft, or you find a raft and you cross the river, but when you get to the other side you keep on with your journey. You don't carry the raft with you. So that's also the purpose of a teacher or a community. You go there with an intention, with a purpose of getting somewhere, but then you're not dependent and the group will be there. The raft will be there when you need it, but that's not. It might be the most important thing in the beginning, but after you reach to a certain level, you become independent, you know.

Speaker 1: 25:38

Yeah, there's a saying faith without works is dead. I'd always used to say. I'd say so, we're God willing. Well, my God was always willing. I had to do my part.

Speaker 1: 25:48

There's the in short story of you know there's a flood and this guy's on the roof of his house and the guy with the rowboat comes and he says, hey, hop one in. And the guys know, I'm good, god's got me. And the water is going up a little bit higher and then someone on a powerboat comes by and Nope, I'm good, god's got me. And it's coming up. I got out, the helicopter comes, drops down the rope, the ladder, I'm good, god's got me. And then he drowns and he's at the preli gates and is what happened? I thought you had me. And he says, yes, I had you with the rope boat, I had you with powerboating. So I think these are great examples of us trying to get the message across of the balance between Dependence and independence and how this can be a guiding force and a connection and not Turns into something unhealthy.

Speaker 2: 26:40

Yeah, yeah, I think that's a good note to end on to about the way I've heard it in a book it's about to find divine in people you meet, you know, throughout the day. I think that that promotes a sense of community, that Whoever I'm interacting with, not just people, just life in general, you know there is being something being communicated, like you're saying that the guy with a helicopter, like rope, these were the manifestation of this loving force that Express itself, but then the guy was like had a fixed idea of how he should be helped. You know, yeah, they will be an angel or godly figure shows up, but sometimes we get help through kind of a, you know, very basic level means and that's something greater reaching out to us.

Speaker 1: 27:30

Yeah, to connect with Sangha, I think one can begin by researching local communities or attending online meetings. We're seeking guidance from experience practitioners. From a therapist standpoint, I think it's essential to emphasize the starting small and being consistent a key To making it an integral part of one's kind of well-being and journey. It's start small, put yourself out there. There's this vulnerability piece that we've talked with in other episodes for growth. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 28:02

Well, good stuff. Well, the Sun's up yeah, good timing, the Sun just came up. So Well. Thanks everyone for listening and, in closing, I think we explored the profound potentially significance of Sangha and our collective well-being. We've journeyed through its role in fostering community and support for spiritual growth, delved into the therapeutic benefits it offers for mental health and touched upon how mindfulness practice with Sangha promote emotional well-being. We've witnessed how Sangha have adapted to the digital age, providing accessible well-being support for individuals in need.

Speaker 1: 28:38

We've discussed personal growth inclusivity in the universality of Sangha, drawing parallels with illicit therapy concepts like Irvin yalam's universality as well. Embracing this, we open doors to a broader sense of spiritual community that transcends religious boundaries, fostering open-mindedness, acceptance and collective growth. As we reflect on this journey, let's remember that Sangha offers us a timeless path to unity, support and spiritual well-being. It teaches us that human experience is universal, transcending individual differences and faith backgrounds. Whether online or in person, it provides a space where we can connect, share and collectively thrive on our path to well-being. So we invite you to explore the concept of Sangha in your own life and discover the transformative power it holds. By doing so, you're not only contributing to your growth, but also to the collective well-being of our global community.

Speaker 1: 29:35

Thank you for joining us on this exploration of Sangha, a valuable collective solution to health and wellness. So if you made it through this whole episode, please like, share and comment on. That Will really help us out with the message to our community. So thanks so much. My name is Luke. This is all. See you next time.