Monica : What does it mean to a Buddhist to practice meditation in a ceremony like the Kathina Ceremony yesterday? Does it enrich the Buddhist life to meditate together with others, or can they do it just as well at home alone or somewhere else?
Luang Por : The reason for mass congregation is unity in meditation practice. Normally the laypeople will meditate individually at home from Monday to Saturday. So, on Sunday, it is a good chance for everyone to get together to meditate and generate strong positive mental energy to cleanse the impurities away from this world. The tradition of communal meritorious activity has been practiced since the Lord Buddha’s time. People may meditate privately or as a group. The mass congregation will motivate the others to follow this good deed as well because the unity of people doing good deeds together is admirable. The moment that people join together to meditate is the moment of peace that can prosper to become world-peace. The world has experienced spiritual drought for a long time, and the peaceful congregation will bring about change. The peace that everyone has longed for will become a reality. All problems in this world arise from the wicked mind. As the mind is the cause, to solve the problems, we have to deal with our mind first. War is a result of evil thoughts and furious minds, while peace occurs from a calm and clear mind. Meditation thus is the easiest and the most effective way to solve any problems. Although people have been longing for peace, no one has ever imagined it can really take place nowadays. However, meditation will bring about this impossible thing. If everyone meditates together, the world can be changed easily as both wars and peace are the result of our mind’s actions.
