What do the words Buddha, dharma, and sangha mean?
Buddha refers both to the historical being who lived and taught 2500 years ago and to our true nature of wisdom and compassion. The word literally means “one who is awake. Dharma or dhamma refers both to the way things are (ultimate truth) and the Buddha’s teachings that reveal this truth. Sangha means community. It traditionally refers to the community of monks and nuns, but we extend the definition to include all those who share our meditation practice.
