One with Everything

In response to Professor Silliman's post Mecca Today, I think it is so unique for a religion to have a pilgrimage where thousands of people preach their faith (similar and different versions) together. I actually have a friend who is going on a pilgrimage similar to this over the summer, and she is very excited. I'm envious- does the Catholic faith even do something like this?  


An idea of what the Hajj is all about:


"Setting out in their own national dress, speaking different languages, and espousing widely varying versions of Islam, by the time they arrive at Mecca these Indonesians, Afghans, and Nigerians will, in important ways, have become one. While in the sanctified area of Mecca and its neighborhood, wearing identical garb (the men at any rate, in lengths of seamless white fabric), they will speak the same Arabic prayers, perform the same rituals, and abstain from the same chores and pleasures. For many, including large numbers of women, these five days of spiritual and social togetherness will be the most important time of their lives."


Even though Islam is different from Buddhism, the idea that these different people will become one reminded me of a fun youtube clip. In the clip,  a Buddhist monk is trying to decipher a joke from a British news reporter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXGi0RGRj-0


Even though they are different religions, Islam and Buddhism still have the same goal: to become one with everything.

In the Supreme Shrine Article:
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/apr/26/supreme-shrine/