Merit and the Journey of Good Deeds : หน้า 59/135

67. ONE DROP AT A TIME FILLS UP A JAR Together, each tiny drop of water can fill up a big jar. Likewise, each act of good deed will fill up your "jar" of virtue. But with no good deed done at all, your "jar" of virtue is empty. Never be lazy or preoccupied with what others are doing. In the end, your fate will be determined by no one else but yourself. So fight as hard as you can. The more merit you make, the more you gain; and the less you make, the less you receive. Take every new day as a new opportunity to make merit. January 12, 1975 68. WITH MERIT, YOU WILL SUCCEED IN EVERYTHING My biggest fear in life is that I will not make enough merit. With great merit behind you, anything you wish can be attained and all you touch will become successful. No one can obstruct you if you have enough merit to support yourself. Having a good base of merit is a great blessing indeed. August 31, 1976 69. BORN TO PURSUE PERFECTIONS I don't wish to be in heaven* for too long. I prefer to be reborn into the human realm quickly so I can continue to pursue Perfections. January 3, 1977 70. FRUIT OF MERIT Merrt from our past lives, whether large or small, will bear fruit in the present life and will express itself in full. If you made 10 units of merit in the past, you will receive all the 10 units in the present. If you made 100 units, you will also receive all of the 100 units. The merit made in this present lifetime will yield results only 10 - 20% now. But it will lay bear fruits in the future. Our future lifetime will be wonderful with the merit we made in the present. Thus, we should learn to be content. If we have 100 units of merit, but we use 1,000, we will collapse in due time. On the contrary, if we have 1,000 units of merit, and we only 100, the merit will bear more fruits sooner. Once you earn more, keep your heart humble and calm. Don't expect more than what you have earned. August 16, 1979 *"There are many levels of heaven which offer a temporary respite from rebirth in the human realm, however only Nibbana offers a permanent state of bliss. Unlike heaven, the humans realm is the only place where merit can be acquired and perfected thereafter."