MERIT

Merit can be compared to the steps needed to lift a rocket off the ground; it is thus completely necessary for our development towards full enlightenment. Merit is the cause of all good and a lack of it is the cause of all the bad that occurs. Inside our worldly wisdom we can by means of merit build up more merit, by social services, etc., and this is very valuable, but not enough, because at death and rebirth it is of no help to us. Without merit we cannot even have worldly enjoyment. Everywhere we see that either people make it, or they don't; some are happy and healthy, some the opposite, all depending on their merit.

The wisdom, which the BUDDHA perfects, is created by merit, by doing the ten good acts and avoiding the ten bad ones. Without merit we shall never reach enlightenment.

Thus accumulation of merit is the seed from which happiness springs. We have done good earlier and therefore now have a human body which may be used for practicing the Teachings and which will thus become precious. Now we have the opportunity of doing more good and getting more merit. In the three lower worlds - those of hell-beings, spirits, and animals - we get rid of earlier bad acts, words, and thoughts, but we cannot do active good deeds. And the gods and half-gods, on the other hand, are too busy enjoying the good, which brought them into those states of existence,

Accumulating merit is easy. We can all do that. The six liberating virtues and the skillful means of the Diamond Way show us how. If we don't understand the emptiness of everything and the higher meditations, the only way to attain that level is to do good, have devotion, and try again and again.