It is important to reflect how religion throughout the ages is presented by a man with a spirit from God, who acts as a divine guide to his close companions and the wider lay community.
In each and every age, the roots of the community is established by the radiance of the messenger. The sun is not just radiant for itself, but it also provides energy for its own ecosystem. It is through this established system that countless beings can reach liberation in such a thriving community. A spiritual master is determined not only by the clarity of his teachings, but by his ability to illuminate those who came to him for refuge and to make them luminaries in their own right.
"He that is free from anger, who performs his duties faithfully, he that guards the precepts and is free from lust; he that has subdued himself, he that wears his last body — he it is I call a brahmin." - (The Dhammapada verses 400)
Religion is often carried on through the ages by scriptures collecting dust on the shelves; rules and rituals that eventually come later on by fallible men to define it. Many of these principles become traditions throughout the generations inspired by the scholars of the age, that no longer even represent the true essence of the original faith. Therefore, if a community had been established, it would often likewise have become distorted or even disbanded, as it no longer would be carrying the original message forward and fundamentally would be disconnected from the original divine source and spirit.
So the best way to understand what should be the true nature of the divine community is to examine those communities that were established at the time of the divine messenger of their age. To get a clear impression throughout history we can observe the community at the time of Gautama Buddha, to recognise a divine pattern.
The Sangha in the Time of Buddha
Prince Siddhartha Gautama Buddha's teachings centered on three divine treasures; recognition of and obedience to the Divine Messenger, and the Dharma containing laws and knowledge often transmitted through sermons and meditation. Despite the current mainstream impression of self-isolation in Buddhism, at its core, the faith is not about withdrawing from society. In fact, true adherence to Buddhism requires active participation in community life, known as 'Sangha,' established through hermitages and living among admirable people. Without this community engagement, it is impossible to fulfill God's will, as Buddha emphasized clearly in his teachings.
“This is the whole of the holy life (brahmacharya); namely, noble friendship, noble companionship, noble association.” - (SN 45:2)
The earliest community surrounding Siddhartha Gautama Buddha was established in the 5th century BCE, just a few years after his personal enlightenment at approximately 40 years of age. This community eventually grew to include his most loyal and obedient disciples, comprising 41 monks and 30 nuns. These followers had successfully eradicated negative, egotistical traits, dispelling ill will and overcoming sensual desires.
The Sangha became particularly renowned for the concept of 'tathagatagarbha', or 'buddha-womb', signifying the potential for Buddha-nature to mature within the hearts of its members, allowing the majority of the Sangha to thrive and realize their true potential. However, within a century of Gotama's death, divisions arose over disciplinary matters, leading the community to diverge from its original purity and unity.
The key to blossoming initially, was how the Sangha exerted a kind of positive peer pressure that required those living in common to overcome negative traits. The resulting individual or disciple had the goal of enlightenment to become an “Arahant” or perfect role model for others. Many of these disciples had previous incarnations revealed to them and with dedication and tenacity, their souls enforced them to an awakening. They displayed special qualities such as humility, patience and courage, for others to emulate them. The purpose was final liberation or Nirvana being reached together, whilst practicing the noble 8-fold path as clearly outlined by the Buddha.
“When a monk has admirable people as friends, companions and comrades, he can be expected to develop and pursue the noble eightfold path.” - (Upaddha Sutta: Half of the Holy Life SN 45.2)
A Divine Community for Everyone
Previously, ordinary people were denied access to true knowledge by oppressive Vedic priests who distorted the scriptures' true meaning, creating a superstitious concept of God. Buddha aimed to revolutionize this paradigm by dispelling illusions. While humanity professed love for God, it often forgot its fellow beings, causing bloodshed in the name of God's supposed glory. Buddha taught us to recognize the infinite self within, the profound power that animates life—an eternal prayer accessible to all, regardless of wealth or poverty. His teachings aimed to eliminate superstition and promote harmonious coexistence.
Buddha came to release the common people from the bondage of their souls. He taught the equality of man, and that the lowest were entitled to the highest attainments through sincere dedication to the community cause. The redemptive and spiritual community did not judge people on their previous lives and choices. Monk Angulimala, one of the members of the divine community, had been a serial criminal before, but became a patron saint eventually. Despite being born a prince himself, the misery of the world had struck Buddha, disillusioned by the luxuriant life he was even prepared to leave behind his newborn son in the palace to gather with his band of followers and realize the divine community and establish victory over the self and priests of his age.
Life in the Sangha
Strong grounded practitioners became stable and resilient to challenges, and able to endure extreme challenges without fracturing. So if there were people who were struggling with the overall vibration of the Sahnga, they would lift the spirits of those around them. Another benefit of communal life was help provided for individuals going through health or personal issues. Grounded friends could offer support in moments of confusion or despair who do not judge outright, yet also provide a just outlook.
Disciple Ananda reflected on Sāriputta, another disciple who was a true friend in the fullest sense of the word. He was a blessed one and king of dharma, source of the teachings, the revealer of the path, and the chief charioteer of people to be tamed. He well understood how to bring out the best in others, and in doing so did not hesitate sometimes to speak straightforwardly and critically, like the ideal friend described by the Buddha, who points out his friend’s faults. - (Aṅguttara Nikāya (3:128))
Before joining the Sangha many social neuroses, embarrassing habits and conditioning were prevalent in characters that were later on eradicated. By facing issues head on rather than living in denial, believers could overcome their so-called limitations. To realize they are human, it was through humility and hard work that adherents could perfect themselves so the community offered a perfect platform to develop wisdom and compassion through everyday encounters and challenges. The goal remained to become fallible beings that had awakened through the dharma, and through the master and community experience, obtain the blessings of well- intended works.
“So critical is to be mindful and to display good character, and to give and accept criticism to develop ourselves.”- (Cunda Sutta, 13)
The community nonetheless thrived with or without them. Supporting the community became an act of generosity and karma and if you needed a respite at some point, the common welfare protected your rights in turn.
From the words of the Guardian of the Dharma, Ananda;
“When misfortunes strike, he doesn’t abandon you; when you’re down and out, he doesn't look down on you.” Born from the mouth of the Teacher, because he let himself be shaped by the Teaching of the Enlightened One.” - (Angutter Nikaye Chapter 7, Verse 35)
Of course society welded together in Dharma, Karmic law made retribution a clear inescapable and underlying truth for actions that went against the Universal God principle. This was sufficient alone to prevent sincere believers from engaging in heinous crimes like fornication, theft, or betrayal. Therefore complex laws were few and far between; freedom an integral part of the Sangha, until corruption took place, then people's behaviors required regulations to be enforced.
‘The Master would not lay down regulations for the disciples, nor recite the Pātimokkha until signs of corruption have appeared in the Sangha’. - (Great disciple, Sariputta, Ref: Parajika Pali, Introductory chapter.)
The Buddha fundamentally taught that scriptures and rituals alone are insufficient to guide our path. The sutras were intended not as mere theoretical texts but as a formula for living our lives and becoming more enriched beings. Without a divine guru present, how can we be certain we understand the true meaning of the verses and sutras?
Ananda was one such embodiment of selflessness, a strong pillar of the early community, who displayed blameless conduct, friendliness, patience and readiness to help and support the community. He was known as the Guardian because through circumspection he could handle and organize much of the affairs of the Sangha effectively. As a chief disciple, the burden was greater for these adepts to ensure the Dharmma was
“successful and prosperous, extended, popular, widespread, well proclaimed among devas and humans.” - (Ref: Saṁyutta Nikāya 51:10).
The Importance of Communal Life
We learn to see that even if we gravitate to certain people, through the community we must treat all persons irrespective of their nature with openness and compassion. The master teaches us to deal compassionately, especially with those we don't usually gel with and might trigger negative karmic reactions. Any usurpation of the rights of the divine messenger will lead to a distortion in the original template of the community and therefore the religion and the community will be tyrannized.
Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh ratified this Universal truth, that the faith collapses without the community,
“when a tiger leaves the mountain and goes to the lowland, it will be caught by humans and killed. When practitioners leave their Sangha, they will abandon their practice after a few months.” (- Friends on the Path: Living Spiritual Communities, (2002) by Thich Nhat Hanh)
Community life is not conditional, in return therefore you take what you need and no more or less. This selflessness to act for the whole, should develop bliss in the individual, as you are aware you are now working for a greater good. Envy and jealousy are removed from the hearts as nobody is deprived of their rights.
“Taking refuge in the Sangha means putting your trust in a community of solid members who practice mindfulness together. You do not have to practice intensively – just being in a Sangha where people are happy, living deeply the moments of their days, is enough. Each person’s way of sitting, walking, eating, working and smiling is a source of inspiration, and transformation takes place without effort. If someone who is troubled is placed in a good Sangha (community), just being there is enough to bring about a transformation.” (– Zen Teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, from Cultivating the Mind of Love)
Where is Today's Sangha?
So how does this all relate to our lives today, especially in a world that has become so fractured and our lives become so self-serving? We must believe that the principle of God is not changing, therefore logically there is also a divine messenger endowed with the Holy Spirit, who has presented the Dharma of our day and age. Likewise he is already working to establish a Divine Just community based on the same selfless principles. Otherwise realistically, God would not be merciful or just and even biased to one group over another, and he is far beyond that!
That community today is present with the Qaim of Ale Mohammed and his family, Aba Al-Sadiq, Abdullah Hashem, who is recognised as the divine successor of our age through his claiming of the holy will of Mohammed. He is known as the angel of sustenance and believers have come together from all over the world, focused on his divine teachings of self-sacrifice and contributing their skills to support the community with everything they have. On that basis from a small band of believers in 2011 living together in a dilapidated apartment block in Cairo, the community has grown into a thriving community in a country estate with delineated departments running kitchen, transport, maintenance and construction and media functions emulating and exceeding that of Lord Buddha. The overall idea remains that our thoughts, actions and visions are for the benefit of the community, not self interest.
“Everyone is in front of me, and I am last, that should be your motto. I shall not take until my brother takes, I shall not eat until my brother eats, I shall not dress until my brother dresses. I shall sleep hungry, and my brother shall sleep comfortably. I shall sleep on the floor and my brother shall sleep in a warm bed. I shall die in order for my brother to live. If you are not like this and more, by God, by God, by God, a Divine Just State shall not be established. It shall not be established until this justice and equality is established between you first. It must begin from within you, O believers.” - (Ahmed Al Hassan, “The Goal of the Wise” p.368)