Longevity from the Sangha
I recently discovered the documentary “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones” on Netflix. It made me think about the importance of Sangha as Shin Buddhists, and the significant benefits we receive from it.
Blue zones are geographic areas with lower rates of chronic diseases and longer life expectancy. They are clusters of the world’s oldest people, and they include places such as Okinawa, Sardinia, Icaria, Nicoya, and Loma Linda of all places.
Author Dan Buettner traveled to each of the blue zones highlighted in the documentary, seeking commonalities that could be used to reverse engineer a formula for longevity. He found similarities such as a heavily plant-based diet, low-stress, lots of natural movement, an emphasis on family, socializing, faith-based communities, and knowing their purpose.
I immediately thought that Buddhism— in particular our practice of Shin Buddhism— fits the bill for the benefits of faith-based communities. We call them Sanghas. I think the Sangha, which is one of the three treasures in Buddhism, is the biggest asset to gain by being a practicing Buddhist. I have to admit that it took me a while to see this.
According to Nobuo Haneda in his book Dharma Breeze, the “Sangha is the most important treasure. Becoming a member of the Sangha, of a living tradition, is the most important thing in Buddhism.” In fact, he says becoming a part of the Sangha is actually our “liberation.”
I think there are a lot of people who like Buddhist concepts, but don’t feel the need to attend services on a regular basis or become a member. In January 2024, Pew released research that revealed the largest religious group in the United States— at 28%— is now people who marked “none.” The group has grown from 16% in 2007. In my research, I came across a New York Times article dated January 4, 1976 by Kenneth A. Briggs that reported 40% of American adults regularly attended church, and that young adults’ attendance had stabilized since the turbulent times of the 1960s. Times have really changed!
If people who shy away from religion are anything like I used to be, they’re probably thinking they can handle life on their own. They don’t need anything, or that maybe their spirituality has nothing to do with community. This individualist attitude is pervasive in American culture.
But Blue Zones tell us that faith-based communities are important to our well-being.
Azusa Pacific University shared research in 2018 about people who attend faith-based services at least four times a month adding 4-14 years to their life expectancy. Several other academic institutions released similar data. The religious denomination does not matter. This is due to the fact that tending to one’s spirituality reduces cardiovascular disease, depression, stress, suicide, and has many other health benefits.
Nobuo Haneda wrote that the “Pure Land is a symbol of the Sangha…a place where we can have true friends.” He also describes it as a “place where people are seriously seeking the Dharma.” He said, “by receiving power from the Pure Land, from the Sangha, we can sprout and eventually bear fruit.”
I was a reluctant Sangha member. A Sangha, like any other human organization, has its politics. You don’t love everyone you come across. You will encounter bossy people, mean people, and maybe even people who interpret the teachings in ways you don’t agree with. But, this is a practice that offers space. You can ask questions. You can think for yourself. You come as you are. This is not the norm in most other religions. Eventually, you find your people. The ones who inspire you. Teach you. People who root for you, and you root for them. There is a camaraderie. It’s a place of being seen, where you exist in a web with others, and even if it’s only on Sundays or whenever you happen to attend a function or a service, you know you are not alone. You are held up by the Sangha.
This is what I think Blue Zones is talking about. The importance of having a space to be our authentic selves in a community, and how much that does for our well-being. I felt like an outsider for a long time when I began regularly attending services. But the day that I started feeling like it was home, that felt like another type of liberation.
I’m likely preaching to the choir here since you all received a newsletter and took the time to read this, but maybe you also find it a bit of a chore to attend services. Or perhaps you know someone who likes the ideas of Buddhism, but doesn’t feel like they have to commit to anything. Maybe your kids don’t know why you drag them to services. Maybe your kids grow up one day, and they wonder why they should bother continuing to practice. We can think of a million scenarios where we might think it’s easier to handle spirituality on our own and we don't need anyone or anything. But the science is there. Humans are inherently social beings. Our survival over the course of human history depended on it. In a world that has become increasingly anxious, depressed, lonely, and disconnected, one has to wonder: is the Sangha the secret sauce?
