There are times when people are unable to generate the power and capacity to further progress in their practice. At such a roadblock, it is paramount that we seek the aid of the Sangha community for support and guidance. In this type of setting, practitioners can benefit immensely from the empowerment of group cultivation. At home in our own isolated space, the empowerment effect is non-existent since we can only rely upon ourselves. Only within an environment group cultivation can one realize this kind of propitious effect. In Buddhism, there is a saying that, “One rather sleeps in a big temple and not cultivate in a small shrine.” In a great Buddhist temple, there is a large Buddhist community presence all practicing together in harmonious unison. The ambient surrounding is conducive to providing the motivation for all to practice. On the other hand, within a small shrine, people do whatever they please with their thoughts being easily diverted. For some, motivation is essential to maintaining their ongoing practice. In a temple environment, activities are more regimented and formal in which the schedule is fixed in advance. During a typical temple chanting ceremony, it begins with the striking of the wooden board to signify that it is time for practitioners to congregate. There may be times when an absentee will prompt others to search for that person. In contrast, if one chants alone, there can be numerous distractions including random thoughts and lingering matters that can easily cause one to forsake practicing and to abandon cultivation altogether. For this reason, it is advantageous for practitioners to chant in the presence of a large Sangha within a group setting in order to reap the benefits of the great empowerment effect.
