[Rnlvifov]

Let's not forget kaarine, that people practice from different traditions from your own and the language used may be different.

Sure. Sorry if sometimes I sound quite radical about some issues. I can understand what you are telling. We see merit as a result not as an intended action when the practice of Dhamma is about. The Soto school with which we practice has as its central teaching the Four Noble Truths. Merit is a result of this practice. I think the issue here is not about merit but the idea of accumulation of it. When you have to practice generosity, be the practice of it. When its time to sit, be the practice of it. Do not ever think in getting a profit of that. Just do it, because generosity has to be done without any reason. When you sit, just do it, because sitting has to done without any sense of profit. If this accumulates merit or not is not really important. In this way you do not accumulate. You just practice the Dhamma leaving the rest to work by itself.

In Soto Zen we call this the practice of Mushotoku. The No Profit philosophy. Mushotoku leads to inner peace, detachment. No fear about loosing, no selfishness about acquiring. No need to rush about because there is nothing to get.

Thanks for shearing Mani,