group meditation is seen in part as a means to "help overcome the influence of evil Mara" against this world. Mackenzie states that meditating together to impact this struggle between the white party and black party is seen by these adherents to be both an individual and collective responsibility. This mythical struggle can be won by a critical mass of meditators, according to this belief, and this is considered to be a holy task. Mackenzie states it is unclear how many of the tradition's followers believe this alleged myth. He quotes Choompolpaisal stating that this is not an insider's understanding, and also states that there is "no evidence" of such a meditation program at Dhammakaya tradition temples. Mackenzie continues that he has met adherents who appreciate the logic of the teachings and the focus on meditation, but that he has also met members who look to experience the miraculous and concludes that there may be many insider understandings. Documentary filmmaker Nottapon Boonprakob highlights reason for skepticism over whether this myth is taught at all. Boonprakob notes the idea that Luang Por Dhammajayo is believed to be a messiah is based solely on the testimony of Laohavanich, who claims to know this through secret "insider" knowledge from his time at Wat Phra Dhammakaya, and that by nature nobody can actually refute his allegation. Influence The Dhammakaya tradition has influenced several notable Buddhist traditions in Thailand. Cholvijarn notes three major figures in Thai Buddhism the tradition likely influenced. The Manomayiddhi meditation tradition, states Cholvijarn, shares several similarities that were likely influenced by the Dhammakaya tradition. The meditation tradition's founder, Luang Pho Ruesi Lingdam, studied meditation under Luang Pu Sodh and several well known meditation masters in the 1930s. After learning Dhammakaya meditation at Wat Paknam, he incorporated it into his practice and eventually became a popular meditation teacher in Thailand. Cholvijarn notes that Luang Pho Ruesi's most popular technique, the Manomayiddhi method, has several similarities with Dhammakaya meditation. Luang Pho Ruesi has also admitted the tradition influenced his view of Nirvana, which he used to believe was void. However, after practicing Dhammakaya and other forms of meditation, he later changed his view to agree with the Dhammakaya tradition's. The Songdhammakalyani Monastery, the first modern Thai monastery for bhikkhuni (fully ordained nuns), has its roots in the Dhammakaya tradition. The monastery's founder, Bhikkhuni Voramai Kabilsingh, first studied Buddhism at Wat Paknam. According to