The term ‘sangha’ literally means
‘a collection or body’. In the Buddha’s dispensation the term has been used as
an ‘organization’. Thus, when the Buddha says ‘supatipanno’ as a characteristic
of the sangha He means ‘an organization’ has been well established. However, as
evident by the Pali sources, the Buddha did not have this will (i.e. to
establish a sangha) at the beginning. Yet, by the gradual process of
development the Buddha’s dispensation has been developed as an organization
with distinct characteristics.
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