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The
Pāḷi word Saṅgha means 'group' or 'congregation' and is the name
given to the body of the Buddha's disciples. The Buddha mentions two
saṅghas - the monastic saṅgha and the noble saṅgha. The
monastic Saṅgha is the congregation of properly ordained monks
and nuns. The noble Saṅgha (ariya saṅgha or
sometimes sāvaka saṅgha) is composed of all those who have
attained the first stage of enlightenment or higher. However, in the
broadest sense the Saṅgha is anyone, ordained or not, enlightened
or not, who is fully committed to the Buddha's teachings. The Buddha
said: 'Whoever is wise and confident, learned, upholding the Dhamma
and living in accordance with it, they are called Light of the
Saṅgha. The monk who is virtuous, the nun who is learned, the lay
man or lay woman who is full of faith, they are rightly called Light
of the Saṅgha'(A.I,8).
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