Within Theravāda communities, the relationship between lay followers and the Saṅgha is understood as one of mutual dependence, grounded in generosity and spiritual guidance. Lay devotees sustain monastics through dāna, offering the four requisites of food, robes, shelter, and medicine, often through daily alms rounds (piṇḍapāta) and organized donations. They also fund the construction and maintenance of monasteries, meditation halls, and related facilities, ensuring that monastics have a stable environment in which to practice. This material support frequently extends to providing books, supplies, and other necessities for study and teaching. In turn, such acts of giving are regarded as powerful occasions for generating merit (puñña), which many dedicate to others as well as to their own spiritual progress.

Participation is not limited to material support; it also takes the form of moral and religious engagement. Lay followers undertake the Five Precepts as a basic ethical framework, and many observe the Eight Precepts on Uposatha days, sometimes spending these observance days at the monastery. They take refuge in the Three Jewels, attend Dhamma talks, and join merit-making ceremonies and festivals that reinforce communal faith and shared values. Through this moral commitment, the laity help create a supportive field of wholesome conduct in which monastic life can flourish.

Ritual and ceremonial involvement further binds laypeople to the monastic community. Devotees attend and sponsor ordination ceremonies, provide the necessary requisites for new monks, and participate in the Kathina robe-offering at the end of the rainy-season retreat. Monastics are invited to homes and public spaces to chant protective suttas (paritta), conduct house blessings, and perform funeral and other life-cycle rites. These shared rituals weave the Dhamma into the fabric of everyday life, allowing the teachings to accompany key transitions and challenges.

Lay engagement also has a strong educational dimension, as followers seek direct contact with the Dhamma through monastic guidance. They attend meditation retreats and daylong practice sessions, study Buddhist texts under monastic teachers, and participate in Dhamma discussions and question-and-answer sessions. Many learn Pali chanting and ritual forms, thereby helping to preserve the tradition’s liturgical heritage. Alongside this, lay volunteers often assist with practical and administrative tasks—such as cleaning, gardening, or organizational work—so that monastics can devote themselves more fully to study, practice, and teaching. Through this intricate web of support, both monastic and lay communities sustain one another on the path of the Buddha.