SANGHA (सङ्घ community)

Table of Contents:

3. Seen by Those Who Walk a Similar Path

When Love Is Not Enough

Sometimes, even the presence of friends and family wasn’t quite enough. Not because they didn’t love me or care for me, but because what I needed was different. Friends and family see us through the lens of history: “the sister,” “the daughter,” “the partner.” That love is precious, yet it comes with roles, expectations, and stories we can’t fully escape. Over time, I discovered the inspiring power of community. Community meets us exactly where we are, without labels, without the past, without expectations. Just shared ground: a passion, a struggle, a stage of life.

The Healing Power of Community

In yoga, for example, there is the principle of Sangha सङ्घ, a community of practitioners who support one another along the path. Just as support strengthens our individual practice in yoga, in life, community gives us strength, guidance, and a sense of belonging.

Seen by Those Who Walk a Similar Path

Sometimes, a stranger understood me in ways no one who had known me all my life could. Perhaps because they had faced similar challenges, followed the same calling, or sought the same meaning in life. In that recognition, there was relief. A mirror reflecting parts of me that others might never see. And sometimes, that mirror healed more than a thousand conversations with people who had known me forever.

Belonging Beyond the Self

I feel the power of community is so strong because it is bigger than ourselves. It is collective. It is inspiring. It allows us to go beyond ego and self-centered perspectives. In this picture, you can meet a glimpse of the community that nurtured my growth during a truly beautiful chapter of my life when I was living in Holbox, Mexico, a chapter that will always hold a special place in my heart.