Universal Lucks: Our Saving of Blessings

We often think that luck occurs by random chance or that blessings are bestow. In fact, we generate our own luck and pass it forward, which returns to us as blessings. Imagine, having a reservoir of universal or spiritual credits, much like money saved in a bank account. We can cash it out in terms of health, wealth, support, luck or self-development.

The money we keep in the bank can be stolen or lost, similar to the material assets and possessions we hoard. When we die, all return to dust. On the other hand, the savings in terms of merits go with us beyond death to the next life.

The hierarchy of spiritual credits

People often mistakenly think that we can generate merits only by being generous. However, there are other ways too. The hierarchy of merits is as follows:

1. Charity to the community is fruitful.
2. Better still, is to keep the precepts of not harming and refraining from intoxicants.
3. Spending a few seconds in a mind of loving-kindness is even better.
4. The most beneficial of all merits is:

“If one were to develop even for just a finger-snap,

 the perception of inconstancy,

that would be more fruitful than the gift,

the great gift, that Velāma the brahman gave…”

Velama Sutta

Velāma Sutta: About Velāma (accesstoinsight.org)

The most important point is that the developing the insight that leads to the end of suffering is regarded as the greatest of all merits. This involves being in 4^th jhana samadhi with one pointedness of mind, sharp and bright, able to see the dependent co-arising of each mental moment. This insight is greater than building churches and feeding the monastics. It might seem selfish, but the path towards nibbana develops qualities that lead to the end of that self; therefore, it is a selfless path.

The intention of giving is the seed.

Any kind of giving great or small, to whoever great or small yield rewards great or small. Kamma is our intention, so when we give, these are the likely motives:

• Seeking profit from giving, he wants to enjoy his rewards —
• Giving because we believe it is good —
• Because of family traditions —
• Giving because we are rich —
• Give out of respect —
• Give for peace of mind —

All the above motives lead to be reborn in heaven, followed by rebirth in this world.

• Give not as any of the above motives but as a support for the development of the mind — reborn in Brahma realm( higher than heaven)  and when he has finished that life becomes a non-returner.

AN 7:49  Dāna Sutta | Giving (dhammatalks.org)

Most often, when we give, we probably won’t be able to have the optimal state of a glad, bright, contented heart. Most realistically, we’ll have some kind of intentions. The intention of our mind will guide where we’re going to cashing out our savings of merits.

There are 10 wishes we can wish for on the path :

1. To be respected and inspired

2. To have the basic necessities: shelter, food and medicinal needs.

3. To wish those who support us reap their greatest fruits: liberation.

4. To wish fruits for those dead relatives that the donor donated in their name

5. To be contented with simple living

6. To be resistant to bodily pain, cold, heat, animal bites, emotional pain and arising feelings

7. To overcome and conquer any unpleasantness.

8. To conquer my fear and dread

9. To enter and abide in the 4 jhanas when wanted

10. ‘May I — with the ending of mental activities — remain in nibbana

Fertile soil for our seeds.

The intention of giving is only half of the fruit of kamma. The other half depends on whom the gift, given to. It is not so important what the gift is, as where it lands. Imagine, a seed sown in deserted soil would yields no fruits while the same seed sow in fertile soil yields an abundance of fruits.

AN 3:58  Vaccha Sutta | To Vaccha (on Giving) (dhammatalks.org)

Giving to animals: 10 times return

Giving to unskillful person: 100 times return

Giving to a normal person: 1000 times return

Giving to a moral person: 10000 times return

Giving to a person in any stage of enlightenment such as stream enterer, once returner, non-returner, arahant: immeasurable return.

How do we till and prepare our soil so that it becomes a fertile soil of immeasurable merits for others?

• we have conscience and responsibility for consequences
• our actions are pure and clear
• we will stand guard to our 6 senses
• we will eat food in balance and appropriately
• we will be mindful and act with alertness
• we will abandon hindrances
• we will enter first jhana of rapture
• second jhana of joy
• third jhana of equanimous pleasures
• fourth jhana of pure, bright awareness
• we will enter and dwell in taints free, awareness released, discernment released: Nibbana

MN 39  Mahā Assapura Sutta | The Greater Discourse at Assapura (dhammatalks.org)

The great combine

We’ve seen that our intentions of giving are important and the person whom we give to is also significant. The optimal combination is when the two factors come together to create the 6 fold factor.   This is when we are glad before we give, our mind is bright and clear while giving and we are contented afterwards. The person we give to should also have 3 optimal factors of being free of desires or on the path to it, free of aversion or getting there and free of delusion or aiming there. Being free of desires, aversion and delusion is an arahant and people walking the path to these goals are enlightened being at various stages.

The fruits of giving

So we are inspired to give and learn that our mind before, during and after giving is very important. Also, we learn that the mind of the receiver is crucial for our gift to bear the greatest fruits. Now that we have a spiritual savings account of merits, what types of rewards can we reap? There are eight kinds:

• To have skillfulness in actions.
• To know what the right teachings is and take refuge in it.
• To have discernment the right groups of friends to seek support.
• To keep the first precept of not harming all beings and so receive the protection and freedom.
• To be able to keep second precept of not stealing, therefore receive protection
• So goes for third precept of refrain from illicit sex
• And fourth precept of not lying.
• And fifth of not using intoxicants.

Akankha Sutta: Wishes (accesstoinsight.org)

Sharing merits

Wholesome actions in body , speech and mind are great and can be shared by gods and men.

“Like a deep pool of water from which as soon as water flows away on one side it is replenished from all around. Just so, O king, if a man were to transfer to others the merit of any good he had done even for a hundred years the more would his goodness grow. This is why wholesomeness is so great.”

When we share merits, they grow. For example, we give someone in need a $10 note. We feel good and receive his gratefulness. He in turn receives our gifts with our intention of kindness. Both benefits. That night, we remember this event and still feel the feelings: our mind is peaceful. Again, we are benefited. We then extend our mind, like we reach out to pick up something with our hand: to the universe and send this smiling peaceful feeling out to all the beings. Because the heart’s qualities by nature is infinite, they expand exponentially with our consciousness.

Another case of sharing merits is rejoicing in the success and happiness of others. For example, at Buddhist ceremonies such as Katrina, we queue up with hundreds of people to Dana the Sangha. The site is a joy to witness.

Another aspect of sharing merits is loving-kindness, as it trains our mind to go beyond its confinement. Our mind wants to expand, that’s its nature and it can’t do that if it’s stuck into petty ownership and self-centredness.

Another special case of sharing merits is for the deceased relatives. This kind of merits can only be beneficial to a special type of ghost: those feed on merits. If they’re in any other realm, they can’t receive. But regardless, the merits still exist in the giving and receiving.

When other beings receive our merits or metta or compassion or peace: it is the intention that they treasured. Just as a parent treasures their little child’s offer of a handprints painting from kindy.

Demerits

Demerits resulting from unwholesome acts, cannot be shared. This is because the intention is self-centred. When one goes against their morals, their mind is pestered with remorse and their consciousness is constricted. Demerit’s nature is small, not expansive like merit. Like a drop of water that only touches the desert ground it falls on, unwholesome acts only effect the doer.

“Just so, O king, unwholesomeness is a mean thing and because of its minuteness affects only the doer and can- not be shared. “

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/milinda.pdf