Our Community

The Sangha of the Falling Rain was invited to practice in the Autumn of 2018. Located in the Poblenou neighborhood of Barcelona, our aspiration was to nurture a local, multilingual and family-friendly practice community in the northern part of town, companion to the Sangha of the Present Moment and the Sangha of Barcelona in Gràcia, in different parts of town, and the Sangha in Maresme just north of the city (link unavailable).

We found a wonderful home for the Sangha in a century-old cooperative, home to generations of community builders. The global pandemic arrived in Barcelona as we were finishing our plans to meet there, and our founding members were either shut in or relocated to other parts of the province. The inspiration and activities of our circle picked up again after attending the 2020 Plum Village online Rains Retreat. A number of participants were interested in continuing daily and weekly practices, and we created a virtual Sangha space on the internet.

Today we have members from across Europe, North America, Vietnam, Nepal, and other locations. We do not meet in person, but are grateful for the opportunity and ease with which we can begin and end the day with chanting, crossing the world without having to cross town.

We train in and maintain the mindfulness practice of Householders. The clutter of family life and the demands of daily business are fertile soil: deep caring and commitments are seeded and watered, and the fruits nourish practitioner, family, colleagues, and community alike.

Being Peace does not begin and end in a meditation hall, but is a way of being in the world that we cultivate together. Finding strength and energy in our practice, we engage with local and global issues around us.