Four Kinds of Persons Adorn the Saṅgha

Here is a discourse from the Anguttara Nikaya (translated by Bhante Bhikkhu Bodhi) that explains how the word "Saṅgha" refers to more than just the community of monks.

AN 4.7 They Adorn

“Bhikkhus, these four kinds of persons who are competent, disciplined, self-confident, learned, experts on the Dhamma, practicing  in accordance with the Dhamma, adorn the Saṅgha. What four?

(1) “A bhikkhu who is competent, disciplined, self-confident, learned, an expert on the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, adorns the Saṅgha.

(2) A bhikkhuni who is competent ...

(3) A male lay follower who is competent ...

(4) A female lay follower who is competent, disciplined, self-confident, learned, an expert on the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, adorns the Saṅgha.

Bhikkhus, these four kinds of persons who are competent,  disciplined, self-confident, learned, upholders of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, adorn the Saṅgha.”

One who is competent and self-confident,

learned, an expert on the Dhamma,

practicing in accord with the Dhamma,

is called an adornment of the Saṅgha.

A bhikkhu accomplished in virtue,

a learned bhikkhuni,

a male lay follower endowed with faith,

a female lay follower endowed with faith:

these are the ones that adorn the Saṅgha;

these are the Saṅgha’s adornments.

Note the phrasing of this discourse.  The four kinds of persons are one thing and the Saṅgha is another thing. It seems that some persons, followers of the Buddha Dhamma, who are not so competent, not so disciplined and so forth, are still part of the Saṅgha though not 'adornments'. A person  becomes an adornment through greater alignment with the Dhamma.  The more a person lives in accordance with the Dhamma, the more the Dhamma shines forth and the greater is their capacity to adorn the Saṅgha.

Book Review of The Kosambi Intrigue

the kosambi intrigue by Susan Carol Stone
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Kosambi Intrigue is a rare historical fiction set during the lifetime of the Blessed One Gotama Buddha about 2500 years ago in India. The novel is set during the early period of the Blessed One's 55 year teaching career and uses the development of certain monastic rules and the writing of an early collection of discourses as plot devices. The book is easy to read and not technical. No prior knowledge of Buddhism or ancient India is required.

Some of the elaborations of the Blessed One's intentions and thoughts did not accord with my understanding. I recognise that the author may have used this technique to help some readers relate to the fictionalised character who may otherwise seem god-like or super-human.

This book may suit teens/young adult readers. It may also suit readers who are developing an interest in Buddhism who have found the early discourses solemn or obscure. This fictional account may help such readers develop a lively mental context for their Dharma studies.

I recommend that readers who enjoyed this book may like to try: Great Disciples of the Buddha: Their Lives, Their Works, Their Legacy. This book contains short biographies of 24 disciples. A more difficult and yet rewarding book to read is The Life of the Buddha: According to the Pali Canon.

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