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Vihara => Open Vihara - [Offenes Vihara] => Topic started by: Dhammañāṇa on August 31, 2017, 06:57:12 PM

Title: [Q&A] How can merit be transferred?
Post by: Dhammañāṇa on August 31, 2017, 06:57:12 PM
How can merit be transferred?

Quote from: original question raised by Crab Bucket on BSe (https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/3512/how-can-merit-be-transferred)
How can merit be transferred?

When attend an event at the sangha I'm with (Triratna) we often transfer merit (puñña) at the end of it. So any good result of the meditation, ritual, dharma study etc... we give away. I know that this isn't something we have just invented. It's a practice that we have taken from other traditions.

What confuses me is merit can be given away. If merit is the fruits of my karma in what sense can this be transferred over to another being? How can someone else benefit from my skillful actions?

Venerable members of the Sangha,
walking in front Fellows in leading the holly life.

 _/\_  _/\_  _/\_

In Respect of the Triple Gems, Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, in Respect of the Elders of the community _/\_ , my person tries to answer this question. Please, may all knowledgeable Venerables and Dhammika, out of compassion, correct my person, if something is not correct and fill also graps, if something is missing.

Valued Upasaka, Upasika, Aramika(inis),
dear Readers and Visitors,

 *sgift*

(This is a maybe modified and expanded answer of the "original" - which also could have been changed by third person - that can be found here (https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/22404/11958) . )


- Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa (http://zugangzureinsicht.org/html/homage_en.html) -

Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Rightly Self-awakened One.

As seeing that there seems to be no good and right answer in regard of what "sharing merits" actually mean, my person thought of "sharing his merits" and let those able to take, let be part. Not sure if the original questioner here has Nissaya (condition), to have even physical part on it.

Sharing merits does not mean, even if believed, that one can make a share of ones good deeds done, so that the fruit of it falls to the person he likes to give.

Beings are owner of THEIR action, heir of their actions...


So what one does to possible give other the chance to give causes for future good fruits, to gain also merits, is to let others be part on it.

This is made by either:

What ever being has one one hand the "physical Nissaya (condition)", means get physical in touch of it, and the "mental Nissaya", means capable to receive it by heart, is touched by it, takes in that way, mental, or physical and mental part on it, with joy, rejoices with it, has gained a share on your merits.

A being not in the physical (incl. fine physical/material) or mental, or both, condition, can never take part on your merits.

That means that a person, not attentive for good deeds, not seeing the gain you accumulate, or accumulated, sees no value, will not have the possibility to take on your given oppotunity.

Your gain on dedicating, sharing merits, let other take part, conteracts your greed in regard you merits and is anyhow an additional gain for you.

Especially when sharing merits where being are not attentive, even aversive of good deeds, in bearing critic, losing reputation under them, set you out to be criticised to like to lift your self..., all this giving up of wordily reputations, are reason for additional merits.

Having gained, heard, seen about good deeds, and knowing the joy ofhaving part on such, you like, out of compassion, out of sympathy, other have the same possibility.

You are optimistic that other being had made merits in the past, so that they are able to take your gift. If they have have Nissaya with the Dhamma, Upanissaya (strong condition, karmic "destiny" with you and words of wise) who knows?

On places where being are gathering who strongly seek after gross food and have never enough, in the peta-realm or in internet (to give a graspable sample), its difficult to share merits. Beings are to much focused on gross food, signs, sounds... knowledge, ideas, fine material gain and reputation.

That's way aside of knowledge, such as sharing merits, approving, expressions of joy, mudita... is seldom seen. Sharing merits goes agains business, gain and consuming and liberates.

Joy is one of the pre-conditions for concentration, joy with what is worthy to rejoice with it, the condition for right concentration and this the condition for liberation. Without right joy, no progress on the path.

May the merits done by me here, benefit all being, may those capable to rejoice with it, gain highes concentrations, path and fruits, with support of it, may the Devas inform those who could not see or hear from it.

(Note: This is a gift of Dhamma and not meant for use of commercial purposes and other wordily gains but intended and bound to awakening and liberation, and so good shared.)