STAGE I: RECOLLECTIONS (ANUSSATI)
REFLECTING ON THE SANGHA
The Dhamma was what the Buddha taught His followers to practice. THE SANGHA, being the community of followers, they individually possess these qualities to different degrees. Each individual will keep on practicing till each individual reaches the state of perfection, in this life itself or in another life to come. When we think of the Sangha, we think of these same qualities generally present in the SANGHA. We do not think of individuals but we think of the community as a whole. We understand that there are members of the SANGHA who had reached the highest level of perfection and those who are on the way. We also know that there are those who are at our own level. Sometimes we are aware of some who are even below our level, just as when standing on an escalator we can see people at the top, those at the bottom, and those standing midway. When we think of the Sangha we see people at different levels. We don’t blame or condemn a person at the lower level for being at that level. We only think, “If that person can reach the higher level some day, I can also reach the higher level some day”. This gives us courage to practice. When we consider how even those at the lowest levels will someday reach the highest, we are inspired to practice. Reflecting on the Sangha we reflect on the same attributes.