Journals

Section 1: Making Merit Attracting Prosperity "In this human world, if we possess merit, our trade will flourish, and whatever business or enterprise we undertake will prosper. We will acquire prosperity and treasures smoothly, conveniently, and without any hindrance whatsoever. Conversely, if one lacks merit, everything one attempts will encounter obstacles at every turn. Therefore, I invite all of you to make merit and cultivate goodness, so that we may finally put an end to poverty, suffering, hardship, and tribulations."

Remembering Merit "You must think of merit. Do not think of other things; think of merit alone. When facing danger, adversity, or hardship... think of merit and anchor your mind firmly upon it. When engaging in trade or business, keep your mind anchored upon that merit... By doing so, your trading will flow smoothly, yielding profits beyond expectations and value."

Offering a Feast to Monks Offering food to monks in this manner aligns perfectly with the treatises of Buddhism. For the Buddha himself declared: “Bhojanaṃ bhikkhave dadamāno dāyako” — the donor who offers nutritious food; “Paṭigahākānaṃ pañca ṭhānāni deti” — is said to bestow five blessings upon the recipients. “Katamāni pañca ṭhānāni” — What are these five blessings?

“Āyaṃ deti” — They are said to bestow longevity.

“Vaṇṇaṃ deti” — They are said to bestow beauty.

“Sukhaṃ deti” — They are said to bestow happiness.

“Bhalaṃ deti” — They are said to bestow strength.

“Paṭibhāṇaṃ deti” — They are said to bestow wisdom.

Source: Page 403, lines 25-28; Page 404, lines 1-3

Preserving the Sphere of Merit "Once we have acquired merit, how do we act? How do we preserve this merit, considering that we cannot see it with our naked eyes? We must anchor our mind at the center of the Sphere of Dhamma that creates our human body. Keep the mind still and focused. Force the mind to stop and rest, knowing that our merit resides right here. Once the mind achieves stillness and reaches the perfect balance, we will perceive our own Sphere of Merit... seeing it with absolute clarity. If we were to behold such a Sphere of Merit, how overjoyed and ecstatic we would be! It would bring the ultimate delight... beyond any earthly comparison."

Source: Page 404, lines 11-15

Dāna is Giving "‘Dāna’ or giving has been the strategy of wise sages since time immemorial. A person of wisdom recognizes the necessity of giving alms, whereas a foolish person views giving as a total loss. In truth, a wise person sees that the more one gives, the more abundantly prosperity multiplies. Giving is of paramount importance. You do not need to beg anyone; everything can be accomplished through giving. However, one must give wisely. If you give foolishly, you will become even poorer; if you give wisely, the more you give, the wealthier you become. Therefore, if you desire immensely vast treasures, you must diligently practice charity and perform Dāna. This is known as ‘Dānañca’—the act of giving."

Source: Pages 736/737/738, lines 15/13/9

Offering Dāna Impartially in Buddhism "Laymen and laywomen, when offering Dāna in Buddhism, must give impartially—not leaning toward oneself, one's own group, or one's associates. Giving with such impartiality is called offering Dāna rightfully through the Order of Monks, hitting the very fountainhead and exact target of merit. If you seek pure merit, offer it to the monastic community as a whole, without specifying any particular monk. Direct your mind solely toward the entire Sangha. Whether it is a single bowl of rice or a fish, no matter what item it is, offer it to the Sangha. Keep your heart true and focused on the center. Practicing this will yield the greatest merit in Buddhism."

Source: Page 328

The Sangha as the Supreme Field of Merit "Whether we are Buddhist women or men, when we seek merit and virtue in Buddhism to cultivate within this world, if we fail to encounter Buddhism and the Sangha, our birth as a human being is wasted. However, if we do encounter Buddhism and the Sangha, it is a supreme blessing; our human birth is not in vain. The Sangha is the supreme field of merit. However much merit you desire, scoop it up! Measure it out according to your wishes. Attend to and support the monks, and you shall attain vast and magnificent merit."

Source: Page 334, line 4

The Act of Offering Charity "In offering charity, if it is presented to a worthy recipient, the fruits will be infinitely vast and magnificent. If it is not given to a worthy recipient, the fruits will be inferior and low. But when given rightly, the results become intensely high and powerful. A worthy recipient is a person deserving of offerings, whose spiritual virtue amplifies the fruits of the treasure given. When the Buddha and the Arahants were alive, they sustained themselves through this cycle of giving, allowing the Sasana to flourish. Without this giving, prosperity cannot endure. When you give prosperity to Buddhism, that prosperity inevitably turns back to benefit you without a doubt. It ultimately means giving prosperity to yourself."

Source: Dhamma Heritage, Volume 1, Pages 206, 213

Buddhism Endures Through Giving "Buddhism endures through giving. If we were to stop giving for even a single month—ceasing to offer rice, food, and sustenance nationwide, with every household withholding gifts—the religion would perish. Monks and novices would all disrobe and vanish completely. Why is this? It is because of giving itself. Giving is critical because everyone stays alive through giving. The scriptures verify this by stating that offering just a single satisfying meal bestows the five blessings: longevity, beauty, happiness, strength, and wisdom, which are desired by all mankind."

Source: Dhamma Heritage, Volume 1, Page 211

The Aid of the Sphere of Merit "The moment you finish relinquishing the offerings and they are handed over to a monk—becoming his rightful property to use, consume, or give away to children or anyone else—the donor's ownership is severed. At that exact instant, Puññābhisandhā automatically flow from your own elemental essence and source of Dhamma, entering the center of your being. It enters the pure, bright Dhamma Sphere that forms our human body, which is as clear as the yolk membrane of a chicken's egg. The center of that sphere is the resting place of merit, where the merit flows and settles. Whenever you encounter danger or suffering, anchor your mind at that Sphere of Merit. Let that merit help you; do not think of anything else. Look to the merit and virtue you have created, for it is your true refuge and can truly save you."

Source: Dhamma Heritage, Volume 1, Pages 214 – 215

The Vital Importance of Giving "Dānaṃ deti—the act of giving. Every one of us needs to practice giving. If we do not sacrifice or give, how can any benefit arise? Giving is what creates mutual benefits. However, one must give without expecting anything whatsoever in return; only then is it true Dāna. If there is an expectation of any return, it is not pure Dāna. If a person possesses this wisdom, no matter how grand their family lineage is, the more heavily they give, the more their followers will multiply, and the happier they will become. Eating becomes a joy, and sleeping becomes a bliss across body, speech, and mind, all because giving is the vital key."

Source: Dhamma Heritage, Volume 4, Pages 41 – 42

Material Offerings "Merit is not invisible; it can be seen. Where does merit reside? What is its form and shape? When we align our practices to the perfect proportion, we will see merit clearly beyond all doubt. To make merit correctly, it must achieve the perfect balance. This happens when you bring material offerings to present to the monks. The moment the monks receive these material offerings from the hands of the giver, and the items are severed from the giver's ownership to become the recipient's right, Puññābhisandhā—the stream of merit—flows instantly."

Source: Dhamma Heritage, Volume 4, Page 46

Merit Brings Ease and Comfort "If we possess merit, our trade will flourish, and whatever business or enterprise we undertake will prosper. We will acquire prosperity and treasures smoothly, conveniently, and without any hindrance whatsoever. Conversely, if one lacks merit, everything one attempts will encounter obstacles at every turn. Therefore, I invite all of you to make merit and cultivate goodness, so that we may finally put an end to poverty, suffering, hardship, and tribulations."

Source: Dhamma Heritage, Volume 4, Page 52

One Must Think of Merit "As we pursue merit, build perfections, practice charity, observe precepts, and cultivate meditation, once we obtain merit, we must anchor our hearts to that merit. When encountering danger or any form of distress, recall that merit; do not dwell on other trivial matters. You must think of merit and merit alone. When facing adversity or hardship, think of merit and anchor your mind upon it. When engaging in trade or business, keep your mind anchored upon that merit, so that your trading will flow smoothly and yield profits beyond expectations and value."

Source: Dhamma Heritage, Volume 4, Pages 55 – 56