How Much Merit Do You Have?  

How do we know we are meritorious? Well, you are obviously human now, with at least some Dharma in your heart, you have family and friends, and you have all your physical attributes with proper features and intellect etc - so you definitely have good merit.  

But every day we live, we are just using up this merit, no different from spending money and yet not enjoying the fruits of it.  

Although money is not the sole indication of merit, it is one indication. But not all the wealthy are enjoying their merit, there are those who are not happy or cannot get a good night's rest. (Yes, even being able to sleep well requires good merit!) Yet there are others who base their happiness on the suffering of others. 

Merit is being able to enjoy life without being at the expense of others and to be happy with life. We need to use merit to bring benefit and happiness to others.  

When we see people who have a lot but are exceedingly stingy, it is like they are living the life of a hungry ghost on earth. Not only are they not enjoying their merits, they are also degenerating whatever merits they have. 

Heartfelt Merit Creation  

In Buddha's time, a lady from the lowest untouchable caste wanted to make a butter lamp offering to the Enlightened One but was unable to afford even the smallest light. The shopkeeper selling butter lamps sneered at her and told her that as an untouchable, she was so lowly that she didn't even have the right to make an offering.  

Undeterred, she begged for a light. The shopkeeper taunted her and suggested that she cut off her long hair in exchange for a lamp. At that time, it was socially unacceptable for a woman not to have long hair and cutting off her locks would effectively lower her social standing even more. So it came as a shock when she agreed without hesitation. Left with no choice, the shopkeeper kept to his words and gave her a light in exchange. The lady was finally able to make an offering to the Buddha from afar.  

That very night, a huge gust of wind blew out every light offering that was made to the Buddha ... all except the one lit by this lady. Her small light offering burnt brightly for the entire time that the Buddha was in the vicinity. When Ananda asked Buddha why this was so, he was told of this story and how the lady had made the offering with her heart. She was then brought before the Buddha to receive his blessings.  

This story shows how important it is to 'feel' the offering we make. Whilst we can use money to create merit, it is most important to use your heart because merit can be created even without money. 

When Guru Rinpoche flourished the Dharma in Tibet, he used the Mahayana method and encouraged lay people to practice the Dharma. He taught how to incorporate Dharma into life so that merit can be created even while sleeping, eating etc.  

What this means for us now is that we can look modern but can cultivate Dharma within our hearts. This is important, especially now, when people tend to think of Buddhists as being boring, plain and lifeless. If this continues, Buddhism will not flourish. 

Impermanence 

When we think of impermanence, most people usually think of the negative aspects of it. Like the colour of our hair is impermanent - it will not remain black but will turn white soon. 

With this being the case, many people are resistant to change. Once they reach their comfort zone, they simply refuse to change. But these people forget that improvements are also due to impermanence. Without impermanence, we will have no hope for a better tomorrow, and a better next life!  

When we were young, we had many ambitions. When we reach those goals, some are contented whilst others crave for more challenges at their own expense - more loans, more debts etc.  

There are four things that we cannot be sure of in life: 

• We cannot be sure that we will be alive tomorrow 

• We cannot be sure that we will be healthy tomorrow 

• We cannot be sure that our next rebirth will be a human one 

• We cannot be sure that there won’t be change 
  

You need to treasure the Guru and the Triple Gem to create merit. Think of them as your lifesavers when you are in deep treacherous waters.  

You need to reflect on why the Triple Gem is important to you. What is your story? What is making you want to cultivate the Dharma in you? Without this understanding, you will just be floating along and going wherever the wind brings you. On the contrary, when you are aware of your motivations, Dharma cultivation will be more memorable and you will be more inspired to do more. 

Once you do this, you can also treasure and appreciate your beliefs, your refuge and be able to appreciate your merits and create more. When you apply your heart, everything you do creates merit.  

Your guru is your teacher and parent all rolled into one. You should never forget your roots else you become egoistic. That is why we prostrate to Buddha above all, in all schools of Buddhism. So when you see beautiful things, visualize them as offerings to the Buddha. When you make offerings to Dzambala, visualize them as wish-fulfilling jewels so that you can obtain your heart's wishes.  

Pray that you can have the merit and the karma to enjoy your merits. Build your bank of merit and good karma and enjoy them for the benefit of all sentient beings. This is the true blessing of wealth.