Dhammarati is in town this week and I'm very happy to tell you that he will be giving a talk this Wednesday at Sangha Night. To make this possible our study program for the series will change as shown below.

Viradhamma's talk on Individuality: the Essence of Sangha will now be Oct 29
For the study group please read the material for Unit 3 (Section 3 of Part 1 and the Introduction to Part 2, i.e. pp. 35-40 and 87-93 from What is the Sangha) and Unit 4 (Sections 5, 6 and 7 of Part 1, i.e. pp.51-77).

Questions from the modules are given below, but please also come prepared with your own.

Unit 3: The Individual: the Essence of Sangha
Sangharakshita here introduces his key term of the “True Individual‟.

1. ‘I have presented this idea that some people are radically more developed than others in rather stark terms, but it is absolutely fundamental to Buddhist thinking. It is vital that we appreciate how significant this distinction between the individual and the non-individual is.’ (p.35). Why is it so vital to appreciate this distinction?

2. Do you have a sense of what the first three fetters mean in your own life? How do you work to overcome them?

3. What are the primary characteristics of the individual? Which of them strikes you most and why?

Unit 4: The Group, the Positive Group, and the Spiritual Community
Following on from his exploration of individuality, Sangharakshita now explores the collective aspects of our life.

1. What are the primary characteristics of the group?
2. Which groups do you belong to?
3. What is the purpose of the spiritual community and how does it differ from the purpose of the group?
4. ‘The spiritual community consists of individuals who are in deep personal contact with one another.’ (p.56). To what extent do you feel that you have such deep personal contact in your own life?
5. What are your own associations with the term "authority‟? Where do they come from?
6. What is the difference between power and love/mettā?
7. What role does the positive group have in our spiritual development and how does it differ from the spiritual community?
8. Why do we need a new society and what is its role?
9. What is it that you really want from your association with the Triratna Buddhist Community

Nov 5: Padmatara and Rochelle - the Meaning of Spiritual Friendship
At the end of this Sangha Night Series we will continue the course on Monday nights, beginning November 10 for 4 weeks. Save the dates!
Link to the full module: http://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/study/yeartwofiles/Students/Year%20Two,%20Module%205%20-%20What%20is%20the%20Sangha,%20Spiritual%20Community.pdf