Buddhism in the West is often presented as a herculean individual endeavor with the focus on the Buddha and the Dhamma with the ultimate goal of rising above one’s sense of self.
The third refuge of the Sangha is often neglected and never fully nurtured.
In Asia, where Buddhism first emerged and continues to flourish to the extent that is possible in an increasingly modern, technology-driven world, the Sangha continues to be largely seen as essential to the practice.
There is a more complete picture of what Buddhism is.
To go beyond self, you need to understand yourself. However, an understanding of self comes from your interaction with others.
A Forgotten Third Jewel
Western culture often views Buddhism through the lens of individualism.
Meditation is a solitary practice, and awakening is a personal accomplishment.
Many Westerners forget that the reason that the Sangha exists is because spiritual growth must come through engagement with other people.
Those around you are a mirror. They allow you to see pride, fear, and potential for the development of qualities like compassion.
There is this strange assumption in the West that monks are withdrawn from society with limited interactions with people.
The reality is often the opposite.
My teacher and my teacher’s teacher interacted with probably a wider diversity of people in society than the average person.
Monks are giving guidance and listening to the concerns of those from every social background.
Practice is not an escape from humanity but a deeper engagement with it.
The Buddha lived at a time of significant religious and intellectual diversity. He traveled widely and counseled kings, merchants, and householders.
Buddhism was born from a diverse world, not an isolated one.
The Buddha discovered the path that would work for people from a diversity of backgrounds and that was tested and proven to be true.
It is still true today.
The Example of the Buddha, Saichō (最澄), and Eisai (栄西)
Genuine self-understanding comes from an exposure to perspectives beyond our own.
The early development of Buddhism in East Asia speaks to this intellectual humility.
Saichō traveled from Japan to China to study new forms of Buddhism and practice. He went on to establish the Tendai tradition in Japan.
There is also the case of Eisai who also journeyed to China and brought back the teachings of Chan/Zen to Japan to revitalize Japanese Buddhism.
They did not assume that they knew all the answers or that Japanese society did either. They looked outward.
This willingness to look beyond themselves actually deepened their understanding of the practice and led to the flourishing of Buddhism in their culture of origin.
Historical Precedents
There is obviously no single factor that leads to the fall or flourishing of civilizations, but there are historical examples that we should consider.
The revival of civilization often arises from a place of humility.
The European Renaissance period is very much a story that depicts the flourishing that can come from outside influences. That flourishing came about through encounters with the Arab world.
The Tang Dynasty was a period of incredible dynamism with significant intellectual exchange of ideas with cultures from India, Korea, Japan, and Central Asia that supported the development of Chinese civilization.
The downfall of civilization frequently results from collective ego elevation.
World War I and II are the most telling examples from the 20th century, where nationalism reigned and nations and people became enamored with defending their narrative of superiority that inevitably led the world to become engulfed by conflicts.
Not surprisingly, there is overwhelming evidence showing that long-term economic growth and innovation for a nation is linked to the integration of new people and ideas in society.
The people factor is practical, and math is simple in modern economic terms. It takes 20 years for a child to become an adult with purchasing power and a productive member of the labor force. Unless each successive generation produces more children than the previous generation, then the population and consumer base cannot expand. This sort of demographic pyramid scheme will ultimately fail.
We are not even accounting for the percentage of the population who become celibate monastics.
There is both secular and spiritual value to humility and the understanding of the need for others.
Paradox of Transcendence
Humility leads to personal growth and wider societal growth, while an attachment to identity leads to suffering and a civilization’s decline.
There are paradoxes that point us to the truths in life and in Buddhism.
Transcending self begins with an understanding of self. Yet this self cannot be understood in isolation. It is discovered through our relationships within communities and the wider world.
To transcend the world, we must first develop the humility to learn from the world first.