Within the Buddhist tradition, the Sangha is regarded as one of the Three Jewels, functioning as the living embodiment of the path and as a vital refuge for practitioners. It is the community of monks, nuns, and lay followers who preserve and transmit the teachings, maintaining scriptures, practices, and the monastic code across generations. Through both oral and written traditions, the Sangha safeguards the Dharma so that it remains accessible and intelligible. In this way, the community does not merely hold the teachings in theory, but sustains the conditions in which they can be studied, practiced, and realized.

The Sangha also serves as a source of spiritual guidance and a concrete example of the Dharma in action. Monastics and experienced practitioners offer instruction in meditation, ethical conduct, and philosophical understanding, providing a framework within which others can deepen their practice. Their way of life—marked by renunciation, mindfulness, and dedication to liberation—functions as a visible demonstration of what it means to follow the path. This visible example can inspire faith, clarify doubts, and show how the teachings may be integrated into daily conduct.

Equally important is the Sangha’s role as a supportive community that nurtures individual effort. Within this collective, practitioners encourage one another, share experiences, and help maintain motivation and right intention. Group activities such as meditation, chanting, and ceremonies create a shared spiritual field that strengthens individual resolve. The Sangha thus helps protect against isolation and discouragement, offering a sense of belonging and shared purpose that reinforces ethical discipline and contemplative practice.

The relationship between the monastic and lay communities further reveals the Sangha’s ethical and devotional dimensions. Lay followers support the monastics with material offerings—such as food, robes, and medicine—which is regarded as a powerful means of generating merit or wholesome karma. This generosity enables those devoted to intensive study and practice to continue their work, while lay supporters cultivate virtue and deepen their connection to the path. Through this mutual exchange, the Sangha becomes both a field of merit and a social institution that allows the teachings to endure and flourish across cultures and eras.