Compassionate Way Sangha

Compassionate Way Sangha The Compassionate Way Sangha is a Buddhist meditation community that currently meets on line.

The Compassionate Way Sangha is a Buddhist community that currently meets on line during the Covid pandemic. Members range from beginners to practitioners with over 50 years of experience in Buddhist meditation. Although a majority of members come from Zen backgrounds we have no formal affiliation with any particular Buddhist sect and practitioners from all traditions are welcome to participate in

our activities. For more information, or to view our schedule, gallery of pilgrimage photos, collection of teachings by eminent masters, or selected reading list, please visit us at csangha.org .

"Throughout the day practice the teachings with determination...Likewise in the evening and in the early morning do not...
03/16/2026

"Throughout the day practice the teachings with determination...Likewise in the evening and in the early morning do not neglect your efforts. Do not let your life pass by in vain...You should remember that the fire of impermanence is consuming the whole world." -Sutra of Bequeathed Teachings..

"Our true self is no self, our own self is no self."Zen Master Hakuin."The more deeply we are our true selves, the less ...
02/06/2026

"Our true self is no self, our own self is no self."
Zen Master Hakuin.

"The more deeply we are our true selves, the less self is in us."
Meister Eckhart.

Dear Sangha,Enclosed is the prayer, based on one by Shantideva, that we end our New Year's Eve services with. May its sp...
01/01/2026

Dear Sangha,

Enclosed is the prayer, based on one by Shantideva, that we end our New Year's Eve services with. May its spirit animate all of us in the days ahead!

"May all beings who are suffering in body or mind obtain, by my merits, oceans of happiness and joy. As long as there is rebirth, may the world unceasingly obtain the profound happiness of a Bodhisattva.

May those who suffer from cold obtain heat, and may those who suffer from heat be cooled. May those dwelling in misfortune be released from their misfortunes. May the fear that animals have of being eaten by one another vanish.

May hungry and thirsty ghosts become happy, freed from all grasping. May even the regions of hell become charming, with lakes filled with the perfume of unbounded lotuses, and may the dwellers there be freed from all anguish.

May the blind behold forms. May the deaf always hear. May all have clothing, food, drink, and everything that is advantageous. And let the fearful be without fear, and those afflicted with sorrow be joyous, and may those who are distressed be at peace.

May the universe protect the sleepers, the mentally troubled, the heedless, the ones in danger, and the helpless, whether young or old. May they be freed from all misfortunes, and possess faith, wisdom, and compassion. May the sick be healed, may those who are wretched and deformed become endowed with great beauty, and may all beings be freed from mental bo***ge.

By my merits, may beings everywhere, without exception, having desisted from evils, be devoted to the Way of Enlightenment, and be freed from all obstacles to its realization. May Bodhisattvas in great assemblies sit in all places, and may they adorn the earth with their compassionate wisdom.

By means of birds and trees, and even rays from the sky, may the Dharma be unceasingly received by all beings. May they eternally be in union with all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and follow their liberating teachings.

May rain come in due season, and crops be abundant, and the earth be rich, and the world's leaders abide in the Law. May every region of the world be safe and auspicious for all of those who travel.

May no being whatsoever be selfish, unhappy, sick, forsaken, or despised, and may none whatsoever be wretched or melancholy.

May the monasteries be prosperous and full of sincere training. May the Sangha be eternally complete, and its work prosper. May practitioners attain zeal for the discipline, and may they skillfully meditate, with minds freed from distractions.

May the ill-behaved become repentant, always devoted to the elimination of evil. For those who seek Buddhahood, may their vows be unbroken, and may all beings awaken to their true nature.

May the teachings of the Awakened Ones be venerated and followed by all. May every being be exceedingly happy with inconceivable Buddha happiness. May that which has been desired by the Bodhisattvas for the sake of the world be realized. Whatever those great beings attempt, may it be accomplished.

In like manner, may Pratyekabuddhas and Sravakas be happy, and always treated with respect.

As long as space and the world exist, may my life be devoted to eliminating its sorrows. Medicine for the world’s suffering, and cause of profound happiness and success, may the teachings of the Buddha endure!"

In this new year may suffering end, and all beings awaken to their true buddha nature!

"Don't misdirect your attention.The sutras simply say to take refuge in the buddha within yourself. They don't say take ...
11/16/2025

"Don't misdirect your attention.The sutras simply say to take refuge in the buddha within yourself. They don't say take refuge in a buddha somewhere else. If you don't take refuge in your own fundamental nature, there is nowhere else to take refuge." -The Platform Sutra.

"The greatest happiness is found in living without egoism." Ven. Maha Ghosananda.
09/16/2025

"The greatest happiness is found in living without egoism." Ven. Maha Ghosananda.

CSangha will sponsor a day of zazen on Saturday, August 23, from 9 am to 9 pm, free of charge and open to all Dharma pra...
07/29/2025

CSangha will sponsor a day of zazen on Saturday, August 23, from 9 am to 9 pm, free of charge and open to all Dharma practitioners everywhere. To participate in all or part(s) of the day please visit the Schedule section our website csangha.org.

Dear Friends,Compassionate Way Sangha will sponsor its June mini sesshin (meditation retreat) on June 13-15, 2025, open ...
05/15/2025

Dear Friends,

Compassionate Way Sangha will sponsor its June mini sesshin (meditation retreat) on June 13-15, 2025, open free of charge to Dharma practitioners everywhere. Details about it can be found in the Schedule section of our website csangha.org. Please participate in all or part(s) of it if you can. In our transient and unpredictable world one can never be certain of another opportunity.

"Take refuge in the truth of your own mind. When your thoughts are free of delusion, you are thereby free of attachment....
05/15/2025

"Take refuge in the truth of your own mind. When your thoughts are free of delusion, you are thereby free of attachment." - Sutra Spoken By The Sixth Patriarch.

March 12 is the anniversary of passing of two venerable masters of Dharma, the Ven. Maha Ghosananda, and the Ven. Tangen...
03/13/2025

March 12 is the anniversary of passing of two venerable masters of Dharma, the Ven. Maha Ghosananda, and the Ven. Tangen Harada. Both were profoundly enlightened beings who selflessly helped many others along the Path. One can find more about their teachings with Internet searches, and/or can visit them in the Teachings section of csangha.org. Heartfelt thanks to them both for their efforts and luminous personal examples!

01/02/2025

A New Year's Prayer Based On A Poem By Shantideva:

May all beings who are suffering in body or mind obtain by my merits oceans of happiness and joy. As long as there is rebirth, may there be no loss of happiness to them in any way. May the world unceasingly obtain the profound happiness of the Bodhisattva.

May those who suffer from cold obtain heat and may those who suffer from heat be cooled by oceans of rains produced by great Bodhisattva-clouds. May the regions of hell become charming, with lakes filled with the perfume of unbounded lotuses.

May the demons of Yama suddenly behold light, and having seen the Bodhisattva Vajrapani coming through the firmament, having beheld freedom from egoism and seen distress disappear, embrace him. May there fall a lotus-rain mingled with perfumed waters so that even the dwellers of hell may be quieted. By my merits may those in hell welcome the appearance of clouds of Bodhisattvas, freed from hindrance, headed by Samantabhadra. May they quiet the intense agonies and fears of hell.

May those dwelling in misfortune be released from their misfortunes. May the fear vanish which animals have of being eaten by one another. May hungry and thirsty ghosts become happy beings, freed from all grasping.

May the blind behold forms. May the deaf always hear. May all have clothes, food, drink, and all that is advantageous. And let the fearful be without fear, and those afflicted with sorrow be joyous, and let those who are distressed be at peace.

Let the sick be well, let all be freed from bo***ge, let the weak be strong, and thoughts mutually affectionate. May every region be auspicious for those who travel.

May the universe protect the sleepers, the insane, the heedless, the ones in danger, and the helpless, whether young or old. May they be freed from all misfortune, and possess faith, wisdom, and compassion. May beings who have little strength become strong. May those who are wretched and deformed become endowed with great beauty.

By my merits may beings everywhere, without exception, having desisted from all evils, not be separated from the Thought of Enlightenment, be devoted to the Way of Enlightenment, be surrounded by Buddhas, and free from all obstacles. May Bodhisattvas in great assemblies sit in all places. May they adorn the surface of the earth with their splendor.

By means of birds and trees, and even rays from the sky, may the sound of the Dharma be heard unceasingly by all beings. May they eternally be in union with Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and with endless homage may they revere the Teacher of the world. May rain come in due season, and grain be abundant, and the earth be rich, and the world's leaders abide in the Law.

May no being whatsoever be selfish, unhappy, sick, forsaken, or despised, and may none whatsoever be wretched or melancholy.

May the monasteries be prosperous and full of sincere training.
May the Sangha be eternally complete, and its work prosper. May practitioners attain zeal for the discipline, and may they skillfully meditate with minds freed from all distraction.

May the ill-behaved become repentant, always devoted to the elimination of evil. For those who seek Buddhahood, may their vows be unbroken. Not suffering the sorrows of existing in evil states, without painful experience, may living beings obtain the state of Buddhahood.

May the Buddhas be venerated by every being. May all beings
be exceedingly happy with inconceivable Buddha happiness. May that which has been desired by the Bodhisattvas for the sake of the world be realized. Whatever those great beings attempt, may it be
accomplished. In like manner, may Pratyekabuddhas and
Sravakas be happy, and always treated with respect.

As long as space and the world exist, may my existence be devoted to eliminating the world's sorrows. Whatever the sorrow of the world, may all that ripen in me, and may the world be comforted by the compassionate Bodhisattvas. Medicine for the world’s sorrow, cause of profound happiness and success, may the teachings of the Buddha endure!

IN THIS NEW YEAR, MAY ALL SUFFERING DIMINISH,
AND ALL BEINGS REALIZE THE WAY OF LIBERATION!

Dear Friends,On New Year's Eve we will welcome the new year with an online program of meditation and services for the we...
12/22/2024

Dear Friends,

On New Year's Eve we will welcome the new year with an online program of meditation and services for the welfare of all beings that will be open to Dharma practitioners everywhere. What better way to begin 2025 than with genuine spiritual practice? Our schedule on 12/31/2024 will be:

7:30-9:30 pm: Zazen (Meditation).
9:30-10:10 pm: Break, and Optional Hatha Yoga Class.
10:10-Midnight: Zazen (Meditation) and Services For The Welfare Of All Beings in 2025.

If you would like to participate in all or part(s) of the evening or need more information, including a link, please email us via our Contact page at csangha.org.

Wishing you a wonderful 2025,

Dharman for CSangha

11/28/2024

November 28, 2024

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, which is, for this writer, my seventy seventh. We never know for certain how many Thanksgivings remain for us, but we do know that we have the gift of life, in fact we are life itself, at this very moment. We may or may not have what we want, but we do have the possibility of awakening to our fundamental nature which is truth itself, yes, each one of us is truth itself, no matter what our situation may be. If we use our remaining allotment of life to wholeheartedly practice we can realize this, and add a genuine measure of peace and clarity to our lives and those of all others. What a profound gesture of thanksgiving, of gratitude, to the many beings whose lives, including their struggles and tears, we are the culmination of.

That doesn't require wealth, or academic accomplishments. The Sixth Patriarch was impoverished and illiterate when he came to great enlightenment. It doesn't require “rocket science” cognitive horsepower. The Buddha had a disciple who had difficulty in simply remembering any of his teachings, except the one about putting his heart and soul into his practice, which was sweeping with a broom, and came to profound, liberating enlightenment by wholeheartedly doing just that. Just that! It doesn't require never becoming discouraged or distracted. Siddhartha Gautama was so discouraged with practice that he was ready to throw in the towel at Gaya. However, somehow, he determined to make one final, sustained, totally committed effort and, through a maze of self doubts and enticing and sometimes frightening, distracting mental states, finally attained absolute awakening and peace.

These people were not fundamentally different from you or me. They simply made a wholehearted, committed effort at practice, in spite of all of the fears, imaginings, self doubts, mentally impoverishing clinging, or whatever else that arose. Since these things are temporary, insubstantial mental creations, like the Buddha we can be liberated from bo***ge to them by putting our life energy into our Dharma practice instead of into them. It's not an easy stroll in the park, but with persistence we too can do it! If truth itself cannot do it, who can?

There are certainly many things to be grateful for in life, such as shelter, food, medical care, good friends, and a host of other possibilities. Ahead of them is gratitude for the opportunity to engage in a committed spiritual practice that can benefit not just our perceived selves but all other beings, something that is desperately needed in our world. If you have a bucket list for this life please put committed practice at the very top, and engage in it! In doing so you can profoundly enrich your life as well as the lives of countless others. What better expression of thanksgiving and genuine empowerment can there be?

With sincere gratitude for you, truth itself,

Dharman for CSangha

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Arlington, MA

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