Buddha knows : Buddhist Congregation

Buddha knows - An interview with Abbot Dhammajayo on Buddhism
by Monica Øien

“Meditation thus is the easiest and the most effective way that directly solves any problems”

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.