The Beating Heart of Sangha

Stephanie Swann
October 28, 2025

Each morning, as I wake, I do two simple things: I set an intention for the day, and I reflect on what I am grateful for. So often, my heart turns toward our beloved sangha. On Tuesday mornings, that gratitude blossoms fully. Even before I join Zoom, I can feel the current of connection, the joy of anticipating familiar faces, and the warmth of seeing new ones as our sangha grows and changes.

When we gather, something sacred unfolds. We listen deeply. We hold one another’s sorrows with gentleness. We celebrate each other’s joys with genuine delight. In this space of shared practice, I am reminded again and again of how profoundly interconnected we are. The warmth of our mindfulness together extends beyond our screen, radiating outward to all beings everywhere.

Our sangha is not merely a group that meets each week. It is a living expression of the boundless heart, one steady pulse of metta, karuna, mudita, and upekkha (loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity). Together, we embody the truth that the Dharma is alive in relationship, in care, and in the simple, beautiful act of showing up.