Sangha is a group of people who follow the path taught and led by Shakyamuni Buddha to convey the Dharma (way) to reduce suffering.
Siddharta Gotama left home to find ways to reduce suffering within one’s life-time. His search went from place to place and teacher to teacher seems to suggest three teaching encounters:
- Alara Kalama: Siddhartha first trained under Alara Kalama, quickly mastering his teachings and attaining a deep meditative state known as the “Sphere of Nothingness.” However, realizing that even this profound state did not permanently end suffering or uproot human ignorance, Siddhartha moved on.
- Uddaka Ramaputta: He then sought out Uddaka Ramaputta, under whom he achieved an even higher level of meditative absorption called the “Sphere of Neither-Perception-Nor-Non-Perception.” Though highly advanced, Siddhartha recognized it was still temporary and did not offer ultimate liberation, prompting him to leave the traditional teachers to trudge his own path of asceticism and eventual discovery of the Middle Way.
- Maha-Pajapati Gotami—the Buddha’s maternal aunt and stepmother—was a central foundational figure in his life.She raised the young prince after his birth-mother, Maya, passed away just seven days after his birth. Later in life, the dynamic flipped when she sought his guidance and requested to enter the spiritual stream. She ultimately became the first Buddhist nun (Bhikkhuni) accepted into the Sangha, breaking traditional societal barriers and acting as a leader and confidant for thousands of early awakened women
- We Teach Each Other”
In Zen philosophy and specifically within the Silent Thunder Order lineage (traced from Shakyamuni Buddha through Master Eihei Dogen, Soyu Matsuoka-roshi, and Taiun Michael Elliston-roshi), the concept of a teacher extends beyond historical individuals.
The lineage embodies the foundational Zen truth that the ultimate teacher is not an external entity, but reality itself as it unfolds in the absolute now. As your own lineage insights note: “…teacher or student, remember we simply teach each other and share the Dharma…” This was the first teaching I recall from Hojo Elliston in an early Dokusan.
So a true guide is anyone or anything that helps a seeker disrupt dualistic thinking, step into “Great Doubt,” and directly perceive their own true nature. This means the Sangha is dynamic in monastic settings and has more opportunities to explore in lay-membership. It is these Lay Sangha Options we explore below.
Today there are more books about Buddhism and Zen, there are recordings of hundreds of Zen teachers, there are websites of scores of sangha websites, there areZen universities, institutes and freelancers, along with podcasts, hybrid Zen+ offerings (Zen just fill-in the blank: Dance). My teaching is of the Dharma:
- The Three Laws
- The Two Laws
- The Four Noble Truths
- The Noble Eightfold Path (Particular emphasis on Zazen)
- The Parimitas
- The Precepts
This means the Falmouth Soto Zen Sangha has many parts/offerings of the Dharma by meeting people where they are to discuss and offer a way one can lead a life (follow a path) in very much in its essential actions, as those of Shakuimuni Buddha through our Sangha options:
- We offer 1:1 contact with our senior priest to just talk about thoughts one has about life.
- We offer a website that contains materials to read on different topics in our online archieves.
- We have a full calendar of activities to explore in as comprehensive a manner as one wishes.
- We offer a formal Practice Path of recognition of 1:1 mentorship with fully transmitted Soto Zen Buddhist Priests.
- We offer independent study 1:1 or in small groups
- We offer book study
- We establish and instruct sitting-group in our practice of Zazen
- We are available to talk with small groups or large about our Zen Buddhist practice of the Silent Thunder Order
- We are a gateway to other Silent Thunder Order sangha and programs you others may wish to explore.
- We are a non-profit corporation existing on donations establishing no fee for services, rather we accept donations from those who can and may wish to support our mission.
Overall I see Sangha of FSZS as being multilateral with activies outside the physical home we call our zendo or face-to-face service facility being the field of our Dharma sharing as you all take the decisions as to directions and priests developing pedagogy for it to happen. https://www.upaya.org/2023/10/roshi-joan-halifax-what-has-ai-got-to-do-with-buddhism/
Sangaku May 18, 2026