Sangha is Harmony

“Oh, good man! You Priests always say that all beings do not possess the Buddha Nature. Oh, good man! 'Sangha' means 'harmony'. There are two kinds of harmony. One is that of the worldly type and the other type is called 'Paramartha-satya’ [Ultimate Reality]. Worldly harmony is the Sangha of Sravakas, and 'Paramartha-satya' harmony is the Sangha of Bodhisattvas. The worldly Sangha is non-eternal, but the Buddha Nature is Eternal. As the Buddha Nature is Eternal, so is the Sangha of 'Paramartha-satya’.

Also, in addition, there is a Sangha which is the harmony of law [Dharma Harmony]. The harmony of law refers to the 12 types of sutras. The 12 types of sutras are Eternal. That's why I say that the Sangha is Eternal.

Oh, good man! Sangha means harmony. Harmony is the 12 types of sutras. In the 12 links of interdependent arising, there is the Buddha Nature. If the 12 links of interdependent arising are Eternal, also the Buddha Nature is Eternal. That's why I say that there is the Buddha Nature in the Sangha.

Also, in addition, the Sangha is the harmony of all Buddhas. That's why I say that there is the Buddha Nature in the Sangha.”

Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 34, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 2.

sangha is harmony.mp3