The Importance of Merit in Achieving Success : หน้า 63/135

78. CALL UPON MERIT FOR HELP All good work takes good planning. When I built the Buddhad­hakka Center, I had to plan everything very carefully. I knew building an alms house (reformatory) at the Buddhad­hakka Center was possible by example of the Most Venerable Luang Por Wat Paknam, who built a large alms house ca­pable of feeding many monks at his temple. His accomplishment brought him a lot of joy and a lot of merit. Even after his death, it still continues to give him plenty of merit. I resolved that when I build a temple, I too would create a similar alms house, and to my joy, I was able to do so. I was not the only one who had attempted to build such an alms house. Others, like Khun Yai Thongsuk, who was an excellent teacher and was more proficient in giving sermons than even many educated monks, tried to establish one but she found it too difficult. When I set about my task, I thought of my merits. When I meditated, I called upon my merits to come help me. And I finally succeeded through the support of my merits. Every success in life is the result of the merits we possess. One who possesses greater merits will rule over one who possesses less. Everything relies on merit. So we should set about making more and more of it as we possibly can. I think about my merits and how it governs my life, and without it I cannot be happy. Everything around me is complete because I reflect on my merits, and when I meditate I reach out for good resources and good people to come help me complete the mission. When you meditate, you too, should reflect on your merits. March 1, 1981