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 NEWS #40
Why Are There Incredible
Benefits From Group Meditations?
From Master's speech
during a group meditation in Japan on July 12, 1992
(Originally in
Chinese)
The
merit derived from group meditations 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 group, the more difference
it makes to our spirit. Many people I can tell just by their looks whether
they go to the group meditations or not. Fellow practitioners are aware
of this too. There are obvious disparities. If you attend the group meditations
often, don't attend for a period of time, and then attend the group meditations
again afterwards, you will feel different, feel that you are not so pure.
We
gain more blessings for our country when more people attend the group meditations.
Don't need to wonder: How can our nation derive blessings just because
a few of us are meditating together? It is true! Just like 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,
no problem. 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, wow! It is useful to so many people, thousands and thousands
of passers-by. The lamp loses nothing, but becomes even more functional
when more people are using it. Therefore, though 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 was 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, benefitting yourselves and everyone. This is what Shih
Fu loves most.
NEWS #41
To Be One With
The Group
Spoken By The Supreme
Master Ching Hai
in Los Angeles,
USA, April 4, 1993
(Originally in
Au Lac Language)
We have to go to group
meditation, so we have the chance to rub against each other. (Applause)
In going to group meditation not only will we improve spiritually, but
our personality will change. If
there is no rubbing against each other, we will not know our sharp corners
and our thorns, so we cannot change. After we interact with each other
for a while, some conflicts will arise, and when we go home, we will think
it over again, "Ah, I was wrong today." We will know, right? If we never
face any challenges, how will we know how high our level of martial arts
is? With no one to practice with, how will we know our own level? That's
why we have to go to group meditation. Whoever goes to group meditation
a lot will definitely improve. I see that very clearly. Do you? (Applause)
Therefore, by practicing in our group, we improve not only spiritually,
but also in our personality.
NEWS #72
Group Meditation
Benefits All Mankind
Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Singapore
September 26, 1994
(Originally In English)
If we want to
walk all the way to the spiritual mansion of the Most High, if
you have a companion supporting in spirit, it is very, very incredible,
the energy that each of us radiates. It is incredible when it's put together.
For example water, if it's only one cup, it is not much. If it fills the
cup, it's all right for the cup. But when many cups are put together, many
hundreds or thousands of cups are put together, it becomes a swimming pool.
Then more, it'll become a lake, and then it'll become a river, and become
an ocean. That's why group meditation is extremely, extremely important
to you. You probably have learned that by your own experience. You feel
clean, energized when you go out. Is that no so? (A: Yes.) It is because
you share energy. You say, "Well, one cup is okay. Two cups, all right."
But one cup you can not clean with. If you put together it becomes a lake;
all of you can swim in it and it will still be there. You know what I mean?
Maybe just put one cup on your body, not only your body is not cleansed
but the water is gone. So, it is a privilege for us to go to group meditation.
It's really, really a great benefit to mankind as well, because if the
lake is there, not only you are benefited but many other people in the
society who didn't put the water in the lake can also get benefit.
NEWS #73
Why Do We Have
To Go To Group Meditations?
Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai at Hsihu Center, Formosa,
Sept. 15, 1991(Originally
In Chinese)
Why do we have to go
to group meditations, and to hang around with our fellow practitioners
and virtuous people? Only then can we realize our level, and what we should
do. If we always mix with people who are lower in level, naturally we will
regress! Even if we can avoid the influence, we wouldn't have time to think
about high level things! We busy ourselves with inferior matters, and our
attainment gets stuck there and becomes useless. Even if we can keep our
attainment, we have no chance to use or develop it. Isn't that right? (A:
Yes!) We are not being discriminative, but things of the same nature attract
each other! Do you know why
I have been so strict with you lately, and tell you to vow before you enter
to the group meditations -- "I have not violated the precepts. I have kept
a pure vegetarian diet. I sincerely come to seek the Truth..." It is because
you are still new on the spiritual path, and you are not stable enough.
What makes it even worse is that you mix with chaotic people! Whom can
you protect when you can't even protect your own life? Therefore, we don't
want to force those who have no intention to pursue spiritual practice.
Forget them, even though they are initiated.
I initiate all of you
without discrimination, because you request it. If you can't carry on with
your practice, then stop coming here to annoy us. I have no desire for
fame and wealth. I won't think that it is better to have more disciples,
or love hearing people say: "Wow! There are so many people going to their
group meditation each time." What is the good in having more people? If
they are not diligent, they will only annoy or contaminate the other fellow
practitioners. It would be more terrible if they deliberately offended
the precepts. So, let it be if they don't want to practice anymore; I have
to protect the good seeds.
Related: Meditation
Method, the Quan Yin Method
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