The Benefits of Group Meditation
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Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Hsihu Center, Formosa, July 29-August 6, 1989 (Originally in Chinese) Once in a while, we should get together to meditate and recharge ourselves, and then we will be full of light and love. When we go home, we can benefit the society, the country, and our relatives and friends.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Hsihu Center, Formosa, February 18, 1990 (Originally in Chinese) During group meditation, the power is enormous. Even if our spiritual level is very low, it will be raised to a much higher level after we have joined in group meditation for some time. On the other hand, even if our level is high, not going to group meditation will push us down to a very low level. This is because, in this world, we are reliant on and related to others; no one can accomplish anything alone. It is the same with spiritual practice. It will be wrong for us to think that we can be successful in spiritual cultivation by practicing alone; it only shows our ignorance and low level.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Laguna Beach, CA, U.S.A. November 6, 1993 (Originally in English) Every Quan Yin practitioner shares the responsibility of cleaning up the planet to some degree or another. Therefore, when we are sitting and meditating together in a group, it's not that we do it for ourselves, for the liberation of five generations of our families, for America, or for our families alone. It's for the whole planet. And the more people who do that, the better.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Melbourne, Australia, March 14, 1993 (Originally in English) It is very, very important that you come to meditate together because the power is greater; and you sit longer and are more stable when you are in the company of others. That's why Jesus said, When two or more sit together in my name, I am with them.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai European International 4-day retreat, April 28, 1995 (Originally in Chinese) When we want to stay away from the terrifying atmosphere of the world, we need to concentrate within. That's why we have to meditate every day to cleanse the contamination. When we join the group meditation, we are together as one, thinking only about the good, positive, pure, and wonderful Power, so we will feel very comfortable. When you come to the Center, don't bear negative thoughts. Don't bring your garbage here; don't bring your trouble or anything troublesome here. You will contaminate your fellow initiates if you do.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Japan, March 12, 1992 (Originally in Chinese) The merit derived from group meditation is many times greater than that of one person meditating at home for days, months or even years, depending on the number of participants in the group meditation. Therefore, the more the participants and the longer we meditate in the group, the more difference it makes to our Spirit. Many people, I can tell just by their looks whether they go to group meditation or not. Fellow practitioners are aware of this, too. There are obvious disparities. If you attend group meditation often, don't attend for a period of time, and then attend group meditation again afterwards, you will feel different - that you are not so pure. We gain more blessings for our country when more people attend group meditation. There is no need to wonder: "How can our nation derive blessings just because a few of us are meditating together?" It is true! Just like when several people are living in a big house, it is enough if one of them is rich and willing to contribute. He will repair any of the leaking areas in the house and thus benefit the whole family, even if dozens of people stay in that house. This would benefit himself, and all the residents would feel secure. Such is the case with one family. In the same way, definitely other people would benefit from the spiritual practice of just the few of us. Just one light by the roadside is useful to so many people, thousands and thousands of passersby. The lamp loses nothing, but becomes even more functional when more people are using it. Therefore, although many people in our world might not be practicing spiritually, it is sufficient if we do. Otherwise, it would be even worse if no one were practicing at all. Just like when the entire village has no light, there would be total darkness. If we could have one or two lights, it's better than none! The highway is very dark, yet we could see a long distance if there were several lights. So, practice more diligently, benefiting yourselves and everyone. This is what the Master loves most.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Paris, France, August 15, 1995 (Originally in English) I tell you to go to group meditation because here you have the truest friends. Then, if you have problems, or maybe sometimes you make mistakes, because of many friends, they can talk to you; they love and encourage you. You will come back again to the correct direction. Having group meditation is just like having an unconditional good friend or a good beloved. We all grow together; we share together some problems and happiness. This is very good for the human psyche, not even talking about spiritual practice. So you see why we have to practice now, or why we must go to group meditation; it is because we are weak. Sometimes we go alone and if someone tempts us, we will fall. But if we go as two, three or four persons together, and if we want to be tempted, our friends will say, "No, no! It's no good for you. Come back!" That's why we must have friends to practice together. In this life everything is like that, even with politics. If a man wants to be president, he must collect a lot of followers who have the same ideal as he has and who support him. Everyone knows that. Otherwise, do you think one person alone could create a particular movement or change the whole country? There must be a lot of people to support. So, when we blame one person, we have to think more. It is a shared ideal; it is a responsibility of a lot of people, not only one or two men. It's the same with every ideal, the same with every goal we reach for. We must have supporting friends to go the same way so that when we fall, when we are weak, our friends will help or carry us. So, we must have friends. That's why we must have group fellow practitioners to encourage each other, because this is like a big family. When you come in and meditate together, you also share the spiritual energy, not only the mundane problems; and then everyone is just connected together. The stronger ones help the weaker ones, and then we have less weaknesses. We can come together at the same level. Everyone is happy. You are cleansed, and you become happier and happier; and you feel lighter and lighter every day. '
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