Buddhist Scout Sangha Award

 

 

 

The Purpose

 

The purpose of the Sangha Award is to give the Buddhist Scouts a practical guidance in achieving the spiritual pledge made in the Scout Oath and Law, thereby developing a scout whose views and actions in life would stem from the highest of the Buddhist thoughts.

 

The Sangha Award program aims to do this by leading the scout:  1) attain understanding and faith in the Buddha, 2) to learn the Teachings, and 3) to practice the harmonious Buddhist way to life, in the spirit of universal brotherhood of all living things.  These are the dynamic aspects of the scout's complete acceptance of the Three Treasures (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha).

 

Further, the Award program duly recognizes the twelfth point of the Scout Law that the scout "is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matter of custom and religion."  The scout is expected to receive religious training and participate actively in his temple program.

 

Finally the Sangha Award program gives the scout a solid basis for fuller understanding and a greater appreciation of all phases of the scouting program.

 

 

The Sangha Award and What It Means

 

The Sangha Award is a medal consisting of a pendant, ribbon and a bar.  The pendant is the Wheel of Dharma, sometimes called the Wheel of Life.   It is a symbol, which represents the spreading of Buddha's Teachings.  The Wheel is suspended from a multi-colored ribbon representing the aura of Buddha's many virtues.  This ribbon is attached to a crossbar on which is inscribed the Sanskrit word "Sangha", meaning brotherhood.

 

The Boy Scouts of America has authorized the Sangha Award to be worn on the Official Uniform over the left breast pocket, to the left of the Eagle Badge, or when the Eagle Badge is not worn, centered above the flap of the left breast pocket.

 

The Award is presented by the temple to a Buddhist Scout in recognition of his spiritual growth as shown by his fulfilling the Award requirements.

 

The requirements are made quite flexible to suit different conditions, so that any Buddhist Scout who sincerely and earnestly applies himself to meeting the requirements of this Award will find it to be very rewarding.

 

Who is Eligible?

 

Any Buddhist scout who is a registered member of a Scout Troop or Explorer unit may apply and begin qualifying for the Sangha Award.  Since this is an individual program, a Buddhist Scout who is a member of any unit may qualify whether or not his unit is sponsored by a Buddhist Temple.  A scout can start at any rank in Scouting, but in order to receive the Award he must be at least a First Class and Explorer must have had at least one year in Exploring.

 

How to Earn the Sangha Award

 

1.      Request an application form from the National Buddhist Committee on Scouting Chair.

 

2.     An application must be mailed together with the requested registration fee of $15.  On approval of your application, you will receive a Service Record Book.  A suggested list of study materials is available upon request.

 

3.     Study must be under close guidance of a qualified Buddhist minister, "Qualified" Lay leader, or a counselor appointed by the Buddhist minister.  The Sangha Award program is requires approximately 72 hours of instruction normally meeting once a week for an hour over the course of two years of study.

Note:  The instructors must be approved by the National Buddhist Committee on Scouting.

 

4.     After fulfilling all the requirements for the Sangha Award to the satisfaction of your minister, Lay leader, or counselor, arrangements will be made for you to appear before the Sangha Board of Review with the submittal of an essay.

 

5.     If the Sangha Award Board of Review finds that you have maintained the high standard set for the requirements, your Record Book will be certified and with a letter of certification, sent to the National Buddhist Committee on Scouting along with the essay for final approval.

 

6.     When all approval is made, the Sangha Award and certificate will be forwarded to the minister of your temple to be presented to you at an appropriate ceremony.

 

 

Administration

 

The Sangha Award program is administered and supervised by the National Buddhist Committee on Scouting.  However, the Boy Scouts of America through its National, Regional, and District Councils is giving full support and encouragement to this program.  The scout leaders are acquainted with the church award program.

 

For further information, contact your local Buddhist temple, your local Scout Executive or the Chairman of the National Buddhist Committee on Scouting whose address is listed below:

            Victor M. Iwamura

            415 42nd Avenue

            San Mateo, CA  94403