Sangha is the New Buddha

Names used in this blog were made up to protect the privacy of the actual students.

What if teaching meditation wasn’t reserved for a single teacher, but something done collectively? In many traditions, the path to awakening is guided by a single enlightened figure, but at Mandala of Light, we believe in a different approach—the Sangha is the new Buddha. In an article by Thích Nhất Hạnh, he tells us that “It is possible the next Buddha will not take the form of an individual. The next Buddha may take the form of a community, a community practicing understanding and loving kindness, a community practicing mindful living.” Transformation does not happen in isolation but through shared mindfulness, service, and intention. In a world that often prizes individualism, we discover deeper wisdom when we uplift each other, allowing love and insight to flow through our shared practice.

To explore this further, I set out to gather stories from three students in our community, asking them how they felt the Sangha was coming together in service—naturally uplifting each other as a collective. In the following paragraphs, I will share their experiences, showing how shared practice manifests in everyday life.

The Practice of Cultivating the Sangha

Sangha is a Sanskrit word meaning Spiritual Community. And a Sangha is not perfect—it is something we cultivate through service, presence, and kindness. Every act of support, no matter how small, can become a sacred exchange.

Max, a community member, learned this firsthand during a health crisis. During a challenging period of unexpected health issues, his meditation mentor drove him to the ER, another Sangha friend traveled two hours daily to keep him company, and another offered healing support at the hospital. In his moment of need, he saw that the Sangha is not just about receiving help but about the reciprocal flow of giving and being given to.

Jane, another member, experienced this when launching her business. Of course, she faced many obstacles and opposition along the journey, but the Sangha was there—offering advice, encouragement, and steady support through every challenge. Her journey reminded her that success and failure are not solitary battles but shared lessons in resilience.

In these acts of service, the Sangha becomes a living embodiment of the Buddha. As Thích Nhất Hạnh says, “If the Dharma is present, then the Buddha is also present, and this is called the True Buddha.”

Awakening Through Each Other

Recognizing the Sangha as the new Buddha invites us to see that the awakening we seek is already within us, nurtured through our connection with others.

Bill discovered this when, despite achieving all he once dreamed of—his ideal job, his dream car, recognition from his teacher—he still felt empty. In a moment of doubt, he called a Sangha friend, who simply reflected back at him: “What if there is no line to cross? What if you are already the person you have been chasing?” The question might not sound profound, but it created a shift in him, a change in his thinking. He had a realization that happiness does not come from external achievements but from self-acceptance.

This is the power of the Sangha—it reflects back to us what we cannot always see in ourselves. It reminds us that we are already enough, already walking the path, already embodying the qualities we seek.

Through these stories, which are just a few amongst countless little moments happening at Mandala of Light every day, we see that the Sangha is constantly serving, supporting, and awakening each other. No act is too small. Each moment of mindfulness, each gesture of care, deepens our collective awakening.

A true Sangha is not just a gathering of individuals but a living, breathing energy of love, wisdom, and presence. As Thích Nhất Hạnh beautifully puts it: “A true Sangha is a community that has the practice and can generate true Dharma… When we encounter a strong collective energy of mindfulness and concentration, we know it is a true Sangha in which one can take refuge.” At Mandala of Light, we witness this every day—we see our Sangha as the next Buddha, growing through service, connection, and the shared experience of awakening.

1 The Four Noble Truths reveal suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path to freedom. The Sangha is the community of those who follow this path with wisdom and compassion. The Dhammapada, Shambhala Pocket Edition, translated by Thomas Byrom.

2 Thich Nhat Hanh, “The Next Buddha May Be a Sangha” Inquiring Mind (Spring 1994 Vol 10 #2)