Mobile VersionBlessing Five:
Having done good deeds in one’s past
D. FUNCTIONS OF MERIT
D1. Level of mind
The first benefits that merit will bring when it arises are benefits at the level of the mind. This is one of the most important benefits because there is no need for one to wait for the after-life in order to see the results. Whenever we perform a good or meritorious deed, merit will arise immediately. If you do a good deed at night, merit will arise at night. If you do a good deed by day, merit will arise by day. If you do a good deed on an aircraft in mid-air, then the merit will arise in our mind there in mid-air. Wherever you are, if you perform a meritorious deed, the effect will arise in the mind instantaneously — it doesn’t need much expenditure of energy for such merit to arise — even just thinking to do a meritorious deed will cause merit to arise and will put the mind at ease. There is no need to wait a long time in order to see the results at the level of the mind of your meritorious deeds. You don’t even need to wait for someone to admire you for doing such a good deed. The results of merit will arise automatically in the mind without you having to do anything more than good deeds — and the benefits that arise are as follows:
1. Merit cleanses the mind: When the mind is clean it is ready to pursue even greater degrees of good deeds. In the days before we started accruing merit, we considered that our mind was already pure. However, as soon as we start doing meritorious deeds, we realize that our mind has become purer than we ever expected. Before our mind was as bright as the morning star — but now our mind is even brighter, with the radiance of the full moon. No matter how clouded and dull the mind might be beforehand, when merit arises in the mind will clarify the mind just like soap or detergent cleans the dirt out of a cloth leaving it pristine and white.
2. Merit raises the quality of the mind: Merit that arises in the mind helps to filter out defilements which might otherwise operate in the mind. Merit will neutralize such negativity in the mind, not allowing them to affect the spaciousness and lightness or to slow down the operation of the mind — and having filtered the mind in this way, the mind is left ready to serve us in all types of task. The meritorious deeds we do therefore upgrade the quality of our minds.
3. Merit brings us happiness: When the mind is purified and filtered by the arising of merit, it gives rise to radiance and refreshedness of mind which is the precursor of happiness. Such happiness is not fleeting, superficial happiness. It is an overflowing of happiness like on the days we make an offering or a donation at the temple and we feel refreshed by the goodness of our action, as if our heart was so big that it filled the whole of our being.
4. Merit will make the mind more stable: Merit will make our mind more stable in the face of the worldly vicissitudes such as being praised or insulted.
5. Merit will make the mind more flexible: The mind will have increased potential for success with the task in hand, whether the task be large or small, gross or refined — whatever the nature of the task, the mind made flexible will be ready for all eventualities.
6. Merit will make the mind more radiant: It will increase the potential of the mind to gain insight to overcome all manner of obstacles that arise in the course of performing any task.
7. Merit will increase the potential of the mind: You will begin to notice the difference whenever you apply your mind to any task. You might overcome the tendency to lose your temper easily. The mind that is free from anxiety and cloudedness, that is spacious and pure and steadfast will be the mind of the highest potential.
8. Merit will allow better decisions to be taken: Decisions can be made quickly and accurately without hesitation.
9. Merit will allow a more insightful analysis of any situation: Thoughts will be ‘on the ball’ and a correct analysis of the situation every time. The mind dwells only on subjects that are skilful. You find yourself unable to think over anything potentially damaging to your high state of mind.
10. Merit will make your thinking thorough and comprehensive: You will not allow your thought to be dragged down into shoddiness.
11. Merit will help to make your thought both noble and deep: Merit will incline your mind towards the higher things of life and away from the baser side of life.
All of these features illustrate the general beneficial effects of merit at the level of the mind. They are effects that take place equally no matter which of the ten ways you use to generate merit. However, the benefits of merit go further than this. They are more than just a feeling in the heart — leading to rebirth in more fortunate realms live to come.
D2. Level of Personality
This level of the effects of merit is easier to observe than the effects on the mind. As we accrue more and more merit, the general benefits, no matter which way in which we accumulate merit, will spread to the level of our personality and will gradually change it for the better. The changes in our character originate from the changes mentioned above in the quality of the mind.
1. Merit will bring you physical grace: from your complexion to your voice and even your physical proportions — all are attractive and appropriate to the task of pursuing perfection.
2. Merit will bring knowledge, wisdom and mastery: because the illumination which merit brings will awaken us to the nature of the world as it really is. Anyone who has set their heart on being smart should start by cultivating merit.
3. Merit will help to upgrade our tastes and values: As the mind dwells on matters that are only virtuous, and leaves aside evil thought, thinking things through thoroughly and in depth, our tastes and values will change in favour of virtue and morality.
4. Merit will develop our character and personality: These changes of attitude and discretion will express themselves in changes of character and personality.
5. Merit causes our speech to become skilful: skilful thought becomes habitual and this causes our speech to be skilful too.
6. Merit causes our behaviour to improve: Good speech has its effect on our physical actions and we find that our behaviour gradually changes for the better. The way that we express ourselves, our deportment when in company, no matter where we mix socially, will be impeccable instead of being vulnerable to all forms of temptation.
7. Merit strengthens our patience: We no longer drool over others’ possessions. In the olden days, others might have been suspicious even at the sight of us, worrying about when we were going to rob them of their beloved possessions — but now that there is no more drooling, they can enjoy their wealth in peace.
8. Merit causes us to have more control over our temper: You certainly wouldn’t let yourself be drawn into a conflict any more. This is another way in which one’s personality changes as the result of upgrading the quality and potential of the mind.
9. Merit improves our personal appearance: Personality includes your personal appearance. Merit accrued will cause our complexion to be soft and radiant — so much more refreshing than before when you weren’t interested in merit.
10. Merit will reduce our anxieties: All your misgivings and bones you had to pick with others, which before used to keep you awake at night, will now be forgiven.
D3. Level of Lifestyle
Merit will take its effect on our mind and our personality immediately whenever we perform a meritorious deed. At the third level, that of the lifestyle, however, we cannot be sure how quickly the benefits will be manifested because our quality of lifetime arises as the result of both present and past deeds. The effects of good and bad deeds are mixed together inseparably. When there are so many contributing factors, it becomes very complex to determine the exact source of the merit that has given particular benefit in a particular lifetime. It is just the same as looking at a particular cell in our body and not knowing which item of food we ate has nourished that cell. This is part of the reason why we are often hesitant to believe that doing good deeds brings good results or that doing bad deeds brings bad results. Some of the general results of our merit are as follows:
1. Merit will attract success: We will be successful whatever we turn our hand to.
2. Merit will bring us praise: You will be praised (at least by the wise);
3. Merit is like a protective armour: which protects us from dangers and misfortunes like a guardian angel.
4. Merit can lead us to attainment: allow you to make continuous progress in your meditation.
5. Merit brings us the things that we wish for: Merit acts like a wish-fulfilling gem.
Another thing which makes the results of merit difficult to understand at the level of the personality is that apart from the general benefits, there are also differences in the way the outcome of merit manifests itself, rather like different ‘flavours’ associated with the ways by which merit has been performed.
D.3.1 Examples of Merit Outcomes
D.3.1.1 Generosity and Kālyanamittata
The benefits that merit brings to different people differ according to the differences the merits they have performed. To take a good example — that of generosity, the likely results of the merits they have done are as follows:
1. Those who make lonely donations without encouraging their friends will be born rich in future lives, but won’t have many friends. They will have to look hard to find anyone to give them their friendship or even understand them;
2. Those who make donations themselves and encourage others to join them in making merit too will be born rich in future lifetimes and will have plenty of friends;
3. Those who don’t make donations, but they encourage their friends to make donations will have plenty of rich friends, but they will be poor themselves. If any of your friends are in need, you will be able to tell them how to solve their problems instantly — but if you are in need you can do nothing to help yourself;
4. Those who don’t make donations and don't encourage others to make donations either have a begging bowl waiting for them in their next life. They will have no friends either.
D.3.1.2 Long life: Long life versus short life
Some people are long-lived because in previous lives they avoided killing or harming animals. Long life is useful because it allows one plenty of time to perform good deeds.
D.3.1.3 Illness: Freedom from illness versus sickliness
Some people are always in good health. They seem invulnerable to disease and hardly even know their doctor. Again good health is the result of having not been cruel to animals in previous lifetimes.
D.3.1.4 Complexion: Radiant versus dull complexion
Some people never seem to lose their temper. They seem to be happy the whole of the time. Such people have a radiant complexion. By contrast, those who are moody and whose faces are always in a frown will have a dull and rough complexion like that of a frog, however many lifetimes they are born. Thus if you know yourself to be moody by nature, then try to improve your character as soon as you can — try doing the chanting and meditation before you go to bed each day. If you are angry with anybody in particular, try to find a way to forgive them and spread loving-kindness towards them. If you are angry with anybody, don’t let the anger last overnight. It’s bad enough to be angry all day — don’t let it last to the next morning.
D.3.1.5 Power: Powerful versus powerless
Some people are born to rule. Wherever they go others treat them with the utmost respect because in the past they have always been quick to express their congratulations [muditā] whenever they have seen anyone else achieving success and given them their support. As for those who are born powerless and cowering, the real reason for this is because of their jealous habits in previous lifetimes. Even if they are born king, they will be king of a mere vassal state or if they are born queen, they will be no more than a secondary consort. If you have the luck to receive a gift it will be second hand!
D.3.1.6 Riches: Rich versus poor
Some are born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Some are born into a wealthy family. Others families are poor but start to prosper as soon as they are conceived so that by the time they are born, their family are already rich. Others’ families are poor but they start to prosper as soon as the baby is born. Such occurrences can only happen to someone who has been generous in his previous lifetimes. Whatever one chooses to do, it will make one rich. By contrast, if one has lived by robbery in previous lifetimes then this lifetime, they will have a begging bowl waiting for them.
D.3.1.7 Social Standing: High v. low social standing
Some people are born with high social standing — such as being born king or a member of the royal family or as member of a house of high standing. By contrast, some are born a beggar’s son. They are on the lowest rung of the social ladder. The Lord Buddha taught that those who are humble and respectful of the virtuous will be born in a family of high social standing. If in this lifetime you pay respect of high virtue and listen to their teachings, you will be born in a family of high social standing next lifetime and others will have the chance to pay respect to you. The reason why some people are born with low social standing is that they have lacked humility and reverence in their dealings with the virtuous in their previous lifetimes and have been stubborn and unyielding instead.
D.3.1.8 Intelligence: Intelligent v.s ignorant
Some people are born clever. As soon as they have the chance to study, all it takes is a single lesson and they are able to stand up and teach in the teacher’s place. For others, the teacher teaches them the same thing two or three times and still they can make no sense of it. They have to rely on their friends to explain it to them outside lesson time. Even after so much trouble, they have only a superficial grasp of what they have earned. They will have to read through the lesson another ten times if they are to understand it as well as their peers.
D.4 Level of Society
This is the next level at which merit takes its effect. The result of having done only good deeds all our life together with the good deeds or merit accumulated over course of a long time will certainly bring peace, happiness, harmony, justice, progress and prosperity to themselves and the people around them. This happens especially as the result of the collective merit accrued by the majority of people in society. Merit takes its effect instantly at the level of the mind (if we are observant enough to notice it), however the time the effects take to filter successively though to the levels of personality, lifestyle and society take proportionally longer.
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