Understanding Merit and Demerit: The Law of Karma : หน้า 94/115

The opposite of merit is demerit, or ‘sin’. Demerit is the product of bad deeds. Bad deeds cause ‘bad karma’. Demerit is a negative energy that is created when a bad deed is performed: mentally, bodily or verbally. If you have done bad deeds in the past life, you will suffer bad consequences in the present life, and even after. Certain types of bad deeds also bring certain types of bad results. For example, if you were selfish, stingy and mean in your past life, you will be poor and miserable in your present life. If you have killed or tortured people or animals in your past life, you will be born with physical problems and sickness in this life, and so on. Both good deeds and bad deeds are governed by the Law of Karma. Good deeds bring good karma and bad deeds bring bad karma. You are responsible for your own actions, good or bad. For whatever deeds you have done, you will bear the consequences. You reap what you sow. No one can pass on his merit or sin to you, nor can anyone participate or share with you in your merit or your sin. It’s like eating or drinking, you can’t eat or drink on another person’s behalf in order to fix his hunger or thirst. ***Merit Power*** Merit has a positive effect on the mind. The human mind is the most complex and sophisticated entity. The mind is a form of energy which controls and sends sequels to the brain, enabling us to think, speak and act in either good or bad fashion. The mind is the origin of all actions, good or bad. It is the source of all success and failure. In its natural state, the mind is pure and perfect and free of any mental contaminants. Mental contaminants consist of ill will, evil thoughts and defilements (greed, anger, delusion). A good, clear mind gives rise to good thoughts, good speech and good conduct. On the contrary, bad thoughts, false speech and bad deeds are all created by a poor quality of mind. Merit has the ability to purify the mind and improves its overall quality. A mind that is pure and healthy is stable and alert, and is free from worries and negative thoughts that make us unhappy. Thus, a healthy mind is a happy mind. A person with a happy mind is a happy person. Happiness is the fruit of merit. Our thought, speech and action are controlled by our mind. A wholesome mind leads to wholesome thought, action and speech. Our personality and expressions reflect what is in our mind. When we are content and happy, we project a cheerful, positive and pleasing demeanor that is appealing to people. When we are gloomy, pessimistic or angry, we project a negative outlook that dispels others. No one wants to be near