Merit...

A talk on Merit:

Good Morning to All,

It seems to me that the concept of "merit" in Buddhism is seldom 
discussed in the forums that I was involved in.  Yet it is a vital 
concept of our journey.

There are quite a few descriptions of merit in the Buddhist sutras.  In 
the Chinese culture, merit is also popularly equated to "good deeds" or 
"elimination of karma". 

Some of us even interpret Buddhahood to be the 
reward for merit or as if merit is our report card.

Yet, these are all just descriptions.  How do we directly experience 
merit?  The following are my witness.

My teacher taught me that merit is the result and not the cause.  We 
don't seek merit.  Merits are just accumulation of deeds and only 
through deeds.

"Chan practice" is composed of "cleans, detach, enhance" of oneself and 
"sense, inspire, act" to others.  The "cleans, detach, enhance" is in 
the human realm.  The "sense, inspire, act" is in the Bodhisattva realm.

When we "cleans, detach, enhance" enough, we will naturally be able to 
turn our focus from ourselves to "sense" the needs of others and be 
"inspire" with wisdom and to "act" to resolve and help.  As we become 
purer, when we transfer our focus from ourselves onto others, our heart 
shines through with all its compassion and wisdom.  In other words, our 
spirituality is enhance to a higher level, where karma will bother us 
less.  Gradually, we live more frequently in the realm of the 
Bodhisattva and less in the realm of human.

All of us can experience this spiritual phenomenon directly.  In the 
experience of energy or chi, I have learned that majority of our Chan 
practitioner are able to "sense" the discomfort of others after two to 
three years of dedicated sitting.  Many actually become worried of this 
natural ability and afraid to get into crowded placed.

Actually reaching this level requires dedicated sitting to purify 
oneself.  Anyone who are able to reach this sensitivity should be 
congratulated to and not be afraid.  The fact of the matter is, the more 
we are able to sense, undertake and process, the more powerful our chi 
will become.

As we become more powerful, the more karmic force of other we can 
process.  The more people we can help. Actually, the more people will 
come to us, naturally and instinctively.

Merit is really just our innate ability to help others.  The more people 
we can help to liberate from their sufferings, the more powerful our 
journey will be.  And more we our spirituality is enhanced.

In short,  merit is nothing but a description for a necessary section of 
our entire journey.  Without "sense, inspire and act" to others, we are 
just rationalizing, or bluntly, having an ego trip.

Sutra say, "Respect sentient being.  Absorb sentient being."  In 
layman's language, "enter the mud to grow the lotus."

As my Teacher always remind me, "everything can be experience.  Once you 
experienced it, it is yours.  You become the sutra and the Buddha.  
Otherwise, it is just a bunch of words."

Thank you for your time to read this.
JMJM
Head Teacher
Order of Chan 

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JMJM Shixong,

Clarification please.

When the Emperor asked Tamo about his merit gained, Tamo ( Bodhidharma ) replied the Emperor gained none...

You say here there is some to gain...would the gathering of Merit depend on heartfelt giving vs ego-felt giving? 

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Good Morning French Shi Xiong,



Excellent question.



What I have described below is from the perspective as a practitioner.  
It basically explains how does merit relate to our journey in the 
witness of "spirit" and "energy" and that is a necessary segment onto 
the Bodhisattva realm.



As to this historical incident between Liang WuDi and Damo is about 
giving in form and in formless.



Emperor WuDi was proud to have printed many sutras, building many 
temples and fed many monks.  These are giving in the visible form.



Damo said "none" in the "formless giving", which is to directly practice 
and directly undertake/absorb the karma of others.  In other words, 
transforming Liang WuDi into a Buddha himself.  This phrase meant to 
encourage the Emperor to practice himself and be enlightened instead of 
dwell on transient forms.



In other words, giving in form, such as money, clothing, building, food 
once consumed the recipients will return to their previous states 
without being liberated from suffering.



Unfortunately it was misinterpreted by the Emperor and Damo ended up 
living in a cave for nine years.



Thank you for asking.  This was what I was taught.

JM



Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can

http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com

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