The Social Structure of Sangha in Theravādin Societies

Subject Areas : Christianity

ارسطو میرانی ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2009-12-26 Accepted : 2010-02-26 Published : 2009-09-23

Keywords: Sangha, monks, nuns, alms, merit, Theravāda,

Abstract :

Sangha as a group of monks and nuns that come together to construct amonastic community based on the principles of vinaya, is the mainreligious institution in a Theravādin society. Sangha's structure is basedon its members' relationship with each other and with their surroundingsociety. Within Sangha there is an obvious equality among monks onthe one hand, and a distinctive discrimination between monks and nuns.Prohibition of Monk's and nun's economic activity except for begginghas made Sangha's continuity dependent on laymen's economicsupports, and Sangha, trying to hold these supports, has undertakencertain social functions. Moreover, despite the emphasis on orthodoxyand avoidance of religious innovations in Theravādin Buddhism, it hasspread some beliefs which are different from and sometimes even incontrast with Buddha's teachings.