Williamsburg Buddhist Sangha activities are always open – at no charge – to anyone and everyone who would like to practice together or is interested in the teachings. There is no requirement to become a member and no special status or benefits conferred by membership – aside from the inherent sense of belonging that one gains from joining a community.

We offer membership because we believe that for some, this sense of belonging IS valuable, both to the member and to the community. It is a way for those who feel invested in our sangha to be recognized as such – and for us to recognize each other.

Membership is open to anyone who wishes to be considered a member, with no requirements as to financial support, knowledge of Buddhism, or event attendance. We ask simply that you have an understanding of the WBS and be supportive of our mission and values (see below). We look to our members to play an important role in holding Sangha leadership accountable to fulfilling these aspirations.

If would like to be considered a member of the Williamsburg Buddhist Sangha, please submit our membership form below. We welcome you!

WBS Vision – Mission – Values

VISION: 
The vision of the Williamsburg Buddhist Sangha (WBS) is to:

• enhance the physical and emotional wellbeing of the people of Williamsburg and the surrounding areas;
• increase our individual capacity to meet personal, social, national, and global challenges with wisdom and compassion; and
• increase our collective ability to live together and solve problems with kindness and mutual respect. 

In so doing , we hope to contribute to the evolution of a community—and ultimately world— in which loving-kindness, generosity, and selflessness bring about global peace, environmental sustainability, and the cessation of suffering for all sentient beings. 

MISSION: 
The mission of the Williamsburg Buddhist Sangha is to provide residents of Williamsburg and the surrounding areas a community for mindful growth and practice, based upon the practical, philosophical, and spiritual teachings of Buddhism in the many iterations of its 2500 year history. The WBS serves the community by offering a regular schedule of meditation and study groups, dharma talks, special events, guest teachers, retreats, and other resources.

VALUES:
All WBS activities, operations and governance are rooted in core values consistent with Buddhist ethical teachings, as articulated in the Three Jewels, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path and other widely recognized Buddhist teachings.

Inclusion and Outreach

• In keeping with the emerging expression of Buddhism in the West, the WBS does not align with any one specific lineage of Buddhism, but welcomes diverse points of view among Buddhist traditions, including secular applications manifest in Mindfulness meditation and practices. 

• Our community is open to anyone interested in Mindfulness meditation and/or Buddhist teachings and practices, from the casual meditator to the most devoted student of Buddhist practice. 

• We value diversity among our participants, teachers, and other volunteers, including those who bring complementary practices from other spiritual traditions.

• We are committed to broader service and establishing working relationships with other community groups and organizations.

• We strive to be creative and experimental in our format, so that we may be relevant and accessible to American culture, issues, and vernacular.

• We do not require payment for any of our teachings, programs, or events. The WBS is primarily supported by voluntary donations from the community.

Ethics and Relationships

• We are committed to integrity and ethical conduct in all of our activities and strive to operate according to principles laid out in the Eightfold Path.

• We are committed to openness and transparency in all Sangha activities.  Information on WBS operations will regularly be made available in an appropriate manner to sangha members and the wider community.

• We value right speech, honest communication, respectful listening, healthy expression of disagreement, and openness to divergent views.

• We promote respect and trust by keeping our relationships clear, by practicing self-awareness and ownership of our feelings, agendas, and judgments and revealing them as much as we are able to further our connectedness. 

• We value harmony in our community life. We seek to resolve conflicts non-violently and honestly, recognizing harmony can exist amidst diversity and disagreements. 

• We value consensus decision making and strive to use it in all WBS deliberations.  If efforts at achieving consensus are not successful, a vote on an issue may be taken provided the minority is first given the opportunity to be fully heard, as well as the option to revisit the issue in the future, as appropriate.

• We stay present with our own and others suffering. We are willing to respond to perceived and articulated needs.

Stewardship

• We make every effort to use resources wisely, respect the environment, and practice the principle of moderation.

• We value responsible stewardship of financial, human, and natural resources.