Category: Kalyana Mitrata – Spiritual Friendship

Sangha

Ah the joy of being with the lovely women at my Dharma training course this evening. The care with which they treated me. The hugs they freely gave. Their listening ears.

Chanting the refuges and precepts, listening to the lovely poems, one especially chosen for me, the short but powerful meditation .., these all acted like a lovely cool balm.

And talking about spiritual friendships and the importance of the Sangha. Discussing, reflecting… sharing thoughts and experiences.

A lovely calm beautiful evening in the midst of the stress and sadness of this time.

Friendship

 

Kalyana Mitrata – spiritual friendship. 

“Friendship is integral to the spiritual life” (Sangharakshita)

I have just started reading a book called “Buddhism and Friendship” by Subhuti.  I have not read very far into it yet.  However, it starts with a conversation between the Buddha and a monk called Ananda.  In this conversation, the Buddha says that spiritual friendship is the whole of the spiritual life.

Last night I went to some friends for dinner. I had the most lovely of evenings. All 5 of us are Buddhists – 3 ordained and 2 of us mitras. The other mitra is working towards ordination. The food was delicious – homemade vegan gorgeousness.  The hosts are not vegan but went to great lengths to ensure that the food they served was vegan (for me) and sugar (unrefined that is) free for their other guest.  But it was the conversation and the love in the room which made the evening.  Real true conversation full of love, insight, compassion and laughter.

“In the case of spiritual friendship, we share our experience of the Dharma itself.  We share our enthusiasm, our inspiration, and our understanding.  We even share our mistakes.”

(Sangharakshita)