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How to Start and Maintain a New Meeting & Sangha

Creating a HEALTHY RECOVERY DHARMA SANGHA

Concrete suggestions from the experiences of the community, on how to start and maintain healthy, vibrant sangha groups.

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Meetings

  • Start a new meetings with 2 people or more: So that responsibilities can be shared. Meeting service positions may include: A facilitator, and a meditation person.
  • Share and train service positions regularly: To maintain a healthy rotation of service, make it a regular practice to train anyone interested in being of service.
  • Come early and stay late: Grow existing connections, make time for questions.
  • Business Meetings: Hold business meetings quarterly (or monthly as needed). Give others the gift of doing service.
  • Connect with nearby RD sanghas: Build regional connections by attending the online meetings of sanghas that are relatively close.
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Growth

  • Encourage the formation of Inquiry Groups or meetings where members are given either the time to write and/or to share their responses or insights from inquiry questions.
  • When we believe it will contribute to our understanding and wisdom:
    • We visit and become members of local Buddhist communities
    • We attend retreats for Buddhist practices
    • We use our Buddist practices in combination with other tools we’ve found helpful for our recoveries such as exercise, creativity, and other areas of spirituality and personal investigation.
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Friends and Mentors

  • Encourage wise friendships and mentorships: They are equally valid paths with the same destination of healing.
  • Create space before and after meetings:  For members to connect with each other.
  • Reach out: Reach out between meetings.
  • Encourage members to do inquiry work.
  • Encourage members to create a network of support. A network of support offers more stable recovery than relying on a single individual.
  • Take advantage of technology: Use technology to help members stay in touch.
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Inquiry & Investigation

  • Engage in ongoing inquiry and investigation for our own practice
  • Creating an inquiry circle – weekly meetings dedicated specifically to work on completing inquiries
  • Create opportunities for members to connect:
    • Time and space after meeting for members to connect casually and share contact information
    • Create a platform for members to connect and practice between meetings: Email lists, Slack Workspace, Discord Space, Facebook Group, Whatsapp etc.
    • Designate someone as a greeter to answer questions and help new members get connected with others