Sangha
Sangha (Skt. saṅgha; Tib. gendün; Wyl. dge 'dun) is the term for the community of practitioners who are following the Buddha's teachings.
Eight Qualities of the Sangha
According to Maitreya's Uttaratantra Shastra, the Sangha has eight qualities of knowledge and liberation.
Knowledge of:
- 1) the profound nature of phenomena
- 2) the vast – phenomena in all their multiplicity
- 3) discriminating awareness wisdom
Liberation of:
- 4) attachment, the emotional obscurations
- 5) hindrance, the cognitive obscurations
- 6) the inferior – the obscurations of the shravakas and pratyekabuddhas
And
- 7) knowledge; and
- 8) liberation.
Further Reading
- Khenpo Ngawang Palzang, A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher, Shambhala, 2004, pages 108-123.