What is the core of gaining merit?

AstralProjectee

What is the core of gaining merit? Thanks.

Peace!

Sabre

"Not doing any evil, any bad things -- this is difficult. Making merit is something that even robbers can do. We have to start from stopping bad unwholesome actions." (AJahn Chah)

ThailandTom

Yes I would suggest it depends on what you define as merit. Someone can be considered great for their ability at shooting animals by fellow hunters, thus gaining merit.

taiyaki

Aids in cultivating a mind towards the positive.

At best allows the mind and body to let go.
But letting go is the best merit :).

ThailandTom

Aids? This reminds me of a southpark episode where jared talks about having aids help him to lose weight, and everyone thinks he means the virus, but he means people. What do you mean by Aids here taiyaki?

driedleaf

The core of gaining merit are skillful and wholesome actions. Being a peaceful person, or developing a peaceful mind would be a skillful action.

taiyaki

Aids? This reminds me of a southpark episode where jared talks about having aids help him to lose weight, and everyone thinks he means the virus, but he means people. What do you mean by Aids here taiyaki?

To aid. Or to help. Hehe

ThailandTom

Lol yes that is what I thought, just wanted to make sure :)

person

What is the core of gaining merit? Thanks.

I think positive intention. I read and hear often about how even a moments meditation on compassion for all beings is greater than making offerings on your altar every day of your life or something similar to that.

genkaku

As a student of Zen Buddhism, I guess my reaction is to be expected ... merit is the stuff anyone might collect and store and praise when they have not yet got an empirical handle on spiritual endeavor. Merit sounds good. It is socially pleasing, perhaps. Some people even make money out of it.

But there comes a time, perhaps, when social and personal attainment simply cannot still the uncertain heart. Merit is limited. The heart and mind know no such limitations.

Put briefly, merit and a couple of bucks will get you a bus ride.

Here is one of the well-worn Buddhist tales about merit ... Bodhidharma meeting with the emperor.

vinlyn

I think there are a lot of Buddhists that get the whole concept of merit wrong. My personal view is that merit is just karma. Period. Nothing more. If you do good things, you are more apt to have better results.

The idea that you can give your merit to someone else? Baloney. How exactly would that happen?

Jeffrey

Merit is good karma that establishes conditions in which Buddhism can flourish for you. In the mahayana the practice is all about liberating sentient beings from suffering. And in that tradition merit is when that occurs.

SpinyNorman

The idea that you can give your merit to someone else? Baloney. How exactly would that happen?

I could sell you some for a modest fee... :p

genkaku

The idea that you can give your merit to someone else? Baloney. How exactly would that happen?

I could

sell you some for a modest fee... :p

Please post the order form. I would like to order some merit together with one of those little pyramids you put on your head, if possible. Also a healing gem stone if that's not too expensive. And, oh yes, an "authentic" toe bone from Gautama's right foot. :)

PS. Naturally I would be grateful to receive any discounts you may be having this week.

federica

You may have to bid on ebay for the genuine toe-bone... at the last count, there were 23.....

zenff

Sharing merit has the same function as praying for someone.
You want someone to be all right; to make it through an illness or a difficult time; or to go someplace nice when they’re dead.
In other religions you pray for the person. In Buddhism you share your merit.

The logic is impeccable.
You give away your good karma; but that’s such a good thing to do that you gain the good karma back instantly; so it’s a merit-multiplier!

And do I believe in it?
No, not for a second. :)

vinlyn

Sharing merit has the same function as praying for someone.
You want someone to be all right; to make it through an illness or a difficult time; or to go someplace nice when they’re dead.
In other religions you pray for the person. In Buddhism you share your merit.

The logic is impeccable.
You give away your good karma; but that’s such a good thing to do that you gain the good karma back instantly; so it’s a merit-multiplier!

And do I believe in it?
No, not for a second. :)

You had me worried there for a minute!

zenff

You had me worried there for a minute!

:D

Bekenze

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/merit.html

Of all the concepts central to Buddhism, merit (puñña) is one of the least known and least appreciated in the West. This is perhaps because the pursuit of merit seems to be a lowly practice, focused on getting and "selfing," whereas higher Buddhist practice focuses on letting go, particularly of any sense of self. Because we in the West often feel pressed for time, we don't want to waste our time on lowly practices, and instead want to go straight to the higher levels. Yet the Buddha repeatedly warns that the higher levels cannot be practiced in a stable manner unless they develop on a strong foundation. The pursuit of merit provides that foundation. To paraphrase a modern Buddhist psychologist, one cannot wisely let go of one's sense of self until one has developed a wise sense of self. The pursuit of merit is the Buddhist way to develop a wise sense of self.

Invincible_summer

WARNING: Cynical sociology student opinion below


I'm even wondering if the concept of "merit" as it seems to be practiced by many Buddhists was developed so that the monastics would continue to receive the support of the laypeople - "Hey laypeople, you gotta help us out see... we need food and cloth and such. Oh, um... yeah. You'll get spiritual points!"

vinlyn

WARNING: Cynical sociology student opinion below


I'm even wondering if the concept of "merit" as it seems to be practiced by many Buddhists was developed so that the monastics would continue to receive the support of the laypeople - "Hey laypeople, you gotta help us out see... we need food and cloth and such. Oh, um... yeah. You'll get spiritual points!"

It sure seems to work in Thailand!