At a recent visit to Amaravati I enjoyed the rewarding feeling of gratitude more strongly than formerly. Time has since passed, but back home, caught in the many distractions of lay life, I still found time to reflect on the relevance of the monastic Sangha in the West and how I had benefited from its presence. The conclusion is that it is very relevant and that I have benefited immeasurably. Like many of my generation, I came late to Buddhism through reading rather haphazardly: - Kerouac, Alan Watts, Krishnamurti, Taoist and Sufi teachings. Finally I met practising Buddhists which led me to tentative practice on my own.

Moving to London was the gateway to opportunity through the Buddhist Society for which I am very grateful. Eventually the arrival of Ajahn Sumedho and other bhikkhus of the Thai Forest Tradition to Haverstock Hill made a Western Theravadan Sangha possible. Since then that Sangha has spread in England, Switzerland, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and America and there have been many changes, many arivals and departures. Some men and women who committed themselves to practice have moved away, some have disrobed and some remain. These events also removed the comfort of dependence on certain people and we have had to experience uncertainty, disappointment and the pain of attachment. Yet in the heart of change remains the dedication to practise, the living of the Buddhist life and the strong and necessary link between monastics and lay people.

For new, first generation Buddhists like myself, the presence of a monastic Sangha is invaluable. The Middle Way is not easy. I have strong tendencies to rest, to turn away down tempting by-ways, to doubt and to return to the culturally familiar.

Those who choose to live as far as possible in the way the Buddha lived, who voluntarily choose austerity and who are generous enough to teach the Dhamma, are my very good friends. Example is the greatest part of teaching.

It is very easy to slide into complacency and criticism and feel that maybe the monastic Sangha is not necessary - ‘I can go it alone’. Many can but I cannot. I was never arrogant enough to feel that I did not need teachers for music, languages, science etc. For me the monastery is a supportive environment which allows me to practise away from distraction. There I can meet people of like mind or can enjoy solitude. There I can both receive and give what I can. There it is possible to participate in a harmless life.

I know quite a number would disagree. I meet people who feel that lay people are better equipped to practice and to teach than the monastic Sangha. But I appreciate my good fortune in belonging to a fourfold Sangha and enjoy the delights of gratitude.

Even when my visits to a monastery are, of necessity, infrequent, I can recall the atmosphere of peace and kindness generated by those who are prepared to try to be full-time Buddhists ‘for the benefit of all sentient beings.’