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The Buddha nodded his approval. He looked at the other two bhikkhus. Kimbila said, “Anuruddha speaks the truth. We live in harmony<br />

and care deeply for each other.”<br />

Nandiya added, “We share all things, from our food to our insight and experience.”<br />

The Buddha praised them, “Excellent! I am most pleased to see how you live in harmony. A sangha is only a true sangha when such<br />

harmony exists. You have experienced real awakening and that is why you have realized such harmony.”<br />

The Buddha spent one month with the three bhikkhus. He observed how they went begging every morning after meditation. Whichever<br />

bhikkhu returned first from begging always prepared a place for the others to sit, gathered water for washing, and set out an empty bowl.<br />

Before he ate anything himself, he would place some of his food into the empty bowl in case one of his brothers had not received any food.<br />

After they had all finished eating, they placed any leftover food on the ground or in the stream, careful not to harm any creatures that lived<br />

there. Then they washed their bowls together.<br />

Whoever saw that the toilet needed scrubbing did it at once. They joined together to do any tasks that required more than one person.<br />

They sat down regularly to share insights and experiences.<br />

Before the Buddha left the three bhikkhus, he spoke to them, “Bhikkhus, the very nature of a sangha is harmony. I believe harmony can<br />

be realized by following these principles:<br />

“1. Sharing a common space such as a forest or home.<br />

“2. Sharing the essentials of daily life together.<br />

“3. Observing the precepts together.<br />

“4. Using only words that contribute to harmony, avoiding all words that can cause the community to break.<br />

“5. Sharing insights and understanding together.<br />

“6. Respecting others’ viewpoints and not forcing another to follow your own viewpoint.<br />

“A sangha that follows these principles will have happiness and harmony. Bhikkhus, let us always observe these six principles.”<br />

The bhikkhus were happy to receive this teaching from the Buddha. The Buddha bid them farewell and walked until he reached Rakkhita<br />

Forest, near Parileyyaka. After sitting in meditation beneath a lush sal tree, he decided to spend the approaching rainy season alone in the<br />

forest.

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