On July 15th, monks from the Cape Town Meditation Centre donated various items—including rice, dry food, cleaning supplies, and tissue paper—to St Luke’s Combined Hospices. These donations were intended to support impoverished patients under the care of St Luke’s, as well as to help raise funds for the continued operations of the hospice.
Sharing is what sustains life. It helps ensure that no one is left in complete hardship. Where there is no kindness, it is like living in a barren land, cracked and dry. But wherever there is even a small stream—or just a drop of water—there is moisture, vitality, and the spark of life.
We are monks from Thailand who have settled here to teach meditation, and we are only able to do so because of the generous support of people from all walks of life—both in South Africa and abroad. The South African community gave us a chance, and in return, we offer meditation guidance. When people come together to offer alms—food and other necessities to the monastic community—it enables us to continue our mission without undue hardship.
On July 6th, the Cape Town Meditation Centre organized a Kathina and Alms Offering Ceremony to mark the beginning of the Buddhist Rains Retreat, following Thai Buddhist tradition. Many South Africans and Thai community members participated in the offering with great devotion. The items received by the monks were more than sufficient for consumption, so we selected what was needed for daily use and set aside the surplus to be given back to the broader society.
Those who offered alms during this event received a double merit. First, they gained merit by supporting monks who are diligently training themselves to purify the mind and find true happiness from within. Second, they gained merit by helping fellow human beings who are going through the shared experiences of birth, aging, illness, and death.
We hope that everyone who took part in the almsgiving feels uplifted and joyful. May you all be free from sorrow, illness, and suffering. May you live a long life with abundance and prosperity, able to care for your families and fellow human beings. And may your hearts be filled with peace, easily coming to rest in the stillness of inner peace.
