การดูแลรักษาพระพุทธศาสนาผ่านบุญกฐิน 30,000 วัด คือการทำหน้าที่แทนพระสัมมาสัมพุทธเจ้าในโลกมนุษย์ อานิสงส์จึงยิ่งใหญ่ ครอบคลุมทั้งอริยทรัพย์ โภคทรัพย์ และมรรคผลนิพพาน แผ่ไปถึงทุกคนที่มีศรัทธาได้เห็นสัญลักษณ์แห่งพระรัตนตรัยCaring for the Buddhist religion through this 30,000-temple kathina offering is carrying out the Buddha's own work in the human realm on his behalf. The merit-fruit is therefore immense, covering noble and worldly wealth alike, all the way to the path, fruition, and nibbana, and extending to everyone whose faith lets them see the symbol of the Triple Gem.
Someone asked about the merit-fruit for sponsors who took part in this offering of kathina robes to 30,000 temples.
The Duty of Caring for Buddhism on the Buddha's Behalf
Pra Ajarn explained that offering kathina to 30,000 temples is an essential role for those who care for the Buddhist religion. We are born into the role of protecting and preserving the Buddha's teaching, so people can practice it toward a life free of stains, reaching a life of wonder — the sole path leading straight toward nibbana, the only means the world can rely on to remain within the system of , cared for by the Triple Gem, with nibbana behind it all, helping every being. As long as this system exists on earth, the world is certain to receive the fruit of peace, both outward and inward.
The Merit-Fruit Covers Both Noble and Worldly Wealth
Caring for the Buddhist religion means that everything good will come to us in turn — both noble treasures and worldly wealth, human treasure, celestial treasure, and the treasure of nibbana; treasures of form, of wealth, of , of retinue, of fame and praise and , and the path, fruition, and nibbana — all complete and abundant wherever we're reborn, whether cycling through the heavenly realm or the human realm.
Acting as the Buddha's Representative in Caring for the Religion
That our revered teacher has given us this essential role in caring for the Buddhist religion is like being the Buddha's own representative, caring for the religion on his behalf, since he no longer has a coarse human body in this world, while we still do, still cycling through birth and death in samsara. When our turn comes to descend, we protect and preserve the Buddhist religion so it flourishes, caring for the faithful who have given up home and household to ordain and study the . Even one with little and understanding is guided by the caretaking backdrop, inspired to ordain, in order to carry forward the caretaking of Buddhism so the symbol of the Triple Gem can continue to arise in this world.
The Stream of Giving-Merit Flows Through All Who See the Symbol of the Triple Gem
Whoever sees the symbol of the Triple Gem finds their mind refreshed and joyful, calmed; goodness, courtesy, and sincerity arise automatically in the faithful, and pass down to their children in turn. The stream of giving-merit flows through everyone whose faith lets them encounter that symbol, moment by moment; merit arises, and the stream of giving-merit, together with refined treasures, wells up and appears bright at the center of the Triple Gem and of nibbana. That stream descends to cleanse our own elements of dhamma — seeing, remembering, thinking, knowing, the elements of earth, water, wind, fire, space, and consciousness — making them clear, clean, and pure, connecting the thread of merit and treasure, clearing the path ahead so we can go on to reap the success we aspire to, living rightly and well. Whoever cares for the Buddhist religion with sincere, wholehearted dedication becomes the very apple of nibbana's eye; nibbana will protect and care for them, and countless good things will arise. The merit-fruit of this offering is therefore too vast to fully describe, because it cares not only for the kaya teaching but for every tradition of Buddhism to remain in this world. Today this work reaches across Thailand; in time, the opportunity will extend across the whole world.