Defining the word ‘sangha’

There are various definitions of gendün or sangha which give a sense of the position and authentic dignity of the gö kar chang lo’i dé (gos dKar lCang lo’i sDe) or ngak’phang sangha (sNgags ’phang dGe bDun). What follows here, is a definition which has not previously been made available in our writing or on the Aro gTér website.

There are two divisions of the sangha of ordained practitioners, and together they are known as the gendün gyi dé (dGe bDun gyi sDe). There are the ‘renunciates with shaved heads’, that is to say monks and nuns, who are known as the ‘division of vinaya’ (’dülwa’i dé – ’dul ba’i sDe). Then there are ‘those with uncut hair and white robes or skirts’, that is to say the ngakpas and ngakmas, who are the ‘division of mantra’ (ngak kyi dé – sNgags kyi sde). Both of them are distinguished from the ‘sangha of ordinary individuals’ (soso’i kyéwo gendün – so so’i sKye bo’i dGe ’dun), that is to say those lay people who practise religion but hold no robe-wearing ordination.

We offer this definition as part of a growing resource of material pertaining to the non-celibate, non-monastic stream of practice which was established in Tibet by Guru Rinpoche—the Second Buddha—Padmasambhava.

The legitimacy and religious status of the ngak kyi dé is not in question, other than by those who seek to undermine this tradition either through ignorance or through questionable motivation. To have doubt concerning the gö kar chang lo’i dé is to have doubt concerning the Nyingma tradition and Padmasambhava. If one has such doubt then one must also have doubt concerning the establishment of Vajrayana in Tibet. One cannot have such doubt even if one does not follow the Nyingma tradition – because all schools of Vajrayana in Tibet trace their origins to non-celibate mahasiddhas. Every school therefore has a dynamic connection with the gö kar chang lo’i dé.

Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje requested us to establish the gö kar chang lo’i dé in the West, and whilst we have not discharged our promise satisfactorily – we shall never tire in pursuance of the fulfillment of that promise. We take this opportunity to renew our promise, and trust that in providing educational material with respect to the gö kar chang lo’i dé, that misconceptions will be laid to rest for the benefit of everyone and everything everywhere.