Bodhi Sangha

Bodhi Sangha is a global spiritual community practicing Zen in the spirit of the Bodhi Sangha School. Both the Bodhi Sangha Community and the Bodhi Sangha School were founded in India in 1986 by Zen master Ama Samy, who was authorized to teach Zen by the Japanese Zen master Yamada Koun.

The Bodhi Sangha School has its roots in Buddhism. It is connected with other religions in an interreligious dialogue, but is not bound to any denomination. Bodhi Sangha’s practice of Zen is open to everyone, regardless of religion or ideology.

Sangha in the traditional sense means a community of followers of Buddha, in the past the order of ordained Buddhist monks or nuns. Today, sangha also refers to lay people who practice in a Buddhist or Zen spirit. The original meaning of bodhi is awakening. Buddha came to awakening under the Bodhi tree. Bodhi describes the realization of emptiness as the true nature of the universe and the non-duality of world and Self, nirvana and samsara.

Those who practice Zen under the guidance of a Zen master are known as students, as a circle of students. The specific Zen orientation is known as a School. In the Bodhi Sangha School, there are a number of active Zen masters with various student circles around them, which together form the entire Bodhi Sangha community. Bodhi Sangha members come from many different countries around the world. They train together in a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood. Their groups are open to all who wish to meditate together.

Bodhi Sangha supports Kanzeon Zendo, Bodhi Zendo, and Little Flower’s social projects for marginalized people in India.

The Bodhi Sangha Forum is for communication and sharing between sangha members (password required).