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constitute the Eight Types of People). These are ariya puggala this world and the world after. If lay people were only fit to offer
or saintly people. Further, the Sañgha is defined as the Buddha’s dāna and to “protect” the Dharma, then the Buddha would not have
disciples (Savaka Sangho) and not Bhikkhu Sañgha. Hence, it is wasted time preaching to them, but we know this wasn’t the case
important to note that the term Sañgha mentioned in the Triple Gem at all.
refers to a community of enlightened people, regardless of whether
they are monastics or lay people. iii.Same Dharma, same result
Traditional Buddhist societies have always restricted the word An important result of the Buddha’s teaching to lay people is that
Sañgha to refer to only monastics. For instance, Buddhaghosa in many of them attained a high level of spiritual development. Many
the Visuddhimagga explained that the term “ahuneyo” is meant discourses mentioned lay people who attained the first, second,
only for monastics. third or fourth stage of sainthood. It is said they numbered “not one
or two, not one hundred or two hundred, and not five hundred, but
Many scholars have offered explanations to the above seeming many times five hundred.” Hence, it is clear from the scriptures that
discrepancy. Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula pointed out that the Sañgha any practitioner, monastic or lay, who follow the path correctly will
to which Buddhists take refuge is the ariya sañgha – the holy eventually taste the fruits of the Dharma.
community of monastics and lay people. This is the Sañgha in its
purest and highest sense. Distinct from this is the conventional iv. Equality
Sañgha (savaka sañgha) which is the community of monastics,
both males and females, who follow the Vinaya rules. Venerable In Buddhism, the Sañgha is not an intermediary between the
Yin Shun also expressed similar opinions. laity and an almighty deity. If there is such an intermediary, it
would indicate a superior-inferior relationship, and would be alien
ii. Buddha preached to all to Buddhism.
The Buddha preached for 45 years to both monastics and lay During the Buddha’s time, the Sañgha members are teachers,
people. Though He spent more time teaching the monastics (since tutors, trainers, counselors, and Dharma practitioners but they
He was living with them), there is no evidence to suggest that He do not monopolise the communication between the laity and the
discriminated against lay people. On the contrary, He gave many Buddha. Today, lay Buddhists who wish to worship the Buddha or
important discourses for the benefit of lay people. He taught Sīgāla chant the suttras can do so by themselves. They also practice the
the famous Sigālovāda Sutta, and associated Himself with King Dharma by themselves, and accumulate good merits by themselves.
Bimbisāra, King Pasenadi and General Siha. He preached the Dasa
Rāja Dharma and Seven Factors of Non-Regression to kings and Admittedly when Buddhism became an organised religion,
ministers. He advised Anāthapiṇḍika on how to gain happiness in monastics were accorded due respect and given precedence over
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