Understanding Merit in Buddhism : หน้า 194/207

should think in this way. As long as the monks do not seriously break the monastic discipline, you should think that you are giving alms to them to replenish their energy for Dhamma study and meditation practice. In the future, when you meet a monk whom you know to be a teacher, you should intentionally make donations as best as you can. Both the giver and receiver will receive the full fruits of merit. "When you hear of monks who have morality and good conduct, although they may live far away, you should make the effort to see them. Your wish will be fulfilled because they are your best field of merit. If this is not the case, you should be patient and diligently continue in your Dhamma study and meditation practice." "You should open your mind limitlessly, and someday you will find a monk who understands you or that you have wished to be your field of merit. Do not hurry to pay homage only to the Lord Buddha and the Dhamma. You must complete the triangle and pay homage to the entire Triple Gem. If you do, you will be capable of reaching the heavenly realms rather than the unfortunate realms, in this life and hereafter, until you reach Nibbana." This example as given by the respected senior monk speaks to the third issue. I highly respect this senior monk for his intellect and ability, and in particular, his ability to reverse the crisis in Buddhist faith. Negative circumstances resulting from carelessly reading negative news If parents do not teach their children to thoroughly analyze the truth in articles about monks, the children may thoughtlessly believe these articles. This could cause them (and us) to miss out on merit opportunities. When they over-generalize that all monks have fallen off the path of morality, they will make judgments without thorough analysis; all they are seeing is the one-sided news. They may then lose interest in Dhamma study, resulting in a lack of understanding about life. They will not know that we must abide by certain laws that govern the world as well as our lives. This knowledge is taught in Buddhism and enables the student to follow the right path in life. The rule that governs this world is the Law of Kamma. This means that 'a good deed yields a good result, and a bad deed yields a bad result. The consequences of a good deed are called 'fruits of merit' and the consequences of a bad deed are called 'kammic retribution. Basically, one is solely responsible for one's own actions. Fruits of merit and kammic retribution do not answer to any person's belief, but they answer to the rules that govern this world. The rule that governs life is the Law of the Three The Warm Hearted Family 386 Solving Buddhism's Crisis The Warm Hearted Family 387 Solving Buddhism's Crisis