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**sDePrx59** · 01-13-2011, 03:04 PM

Accumulation of merit is absolutely necessary if one wants to understand the concept of emptiness. Dedicating ones merit to others increases its value because once again it contributes to our realization of emptiness or the wisdom mind of the Buddha. It may appear to be contrived but is in fact right effort, as it is not directed at the false, ego-clinging self.

In the section ''Emptiness'' from "Heartwood from the Bo Tree", Ajahn Buddhadasa said :

"Whether there is merit or demerit is up to us. If contact with the world leads to truth-discerning awareness then it is merit (punna). If contact with the world leads to an increase in foolishness and delusion than it's demerit (papa)."

http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/Bo...he_Bo_Tree.htm

and in ''The Way it is" Ajahn Sumedho says:

"We can decide not to do evil. We don’t have to kill, lie, steal, distract ourselves and drug ourselves or get lost in moods and feelings. We can be free from all that.
It’s a wonderful opportunity in the human form to refrain from evil and to do good – not in order to store up merit for the next life, but because this is the beauty of our humanity. Being a human can be a joyful experience rather that an onerous task."

My own view is that I think that I should do my best to practice the Dharma and do what I can for other beings. However, I feel that understanding emptiness both conceptually and in meditation, isn't rocket science, nor something unattainable. It comes through practice and relaxing and letting go, rather than obsessing about the necessity to store up merit before one can understand it. Sharing merit is a very nice thought though, and helps one to be be motivated by generosity towards others.

Finally, "All that is subject to arising is subject to ceasing," as is clinging to beliefs of one kind or another.

With metta,

D-A

01-13-2011, 03:04 PM	#20
sDePrx59 Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 442 Senior Member	Accumulation of merit is absolutely necessary if one wants to understand the concept of emptiness. Dedicating ones merit to others increases its value because once again it contributes to our realization of emptiness or the wisdom mind of the Buddha. It may appear to be contrived but is in fact right effort, as it is not directed at the false, ego-clinging self. In the section ''Emptiness'' from "Heartwood from the Bo Tree", Ajahn Buddhadasa said : "Whether there is merit or demerit is up to us. If contact with the world leads to truth-discerning awareness then it is merit (punna). If contact with the world leads to an increase in foolishness and delusion than it's demerit (papa)." http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/Bo...he_Bo_Tree.htm and in ''The Way it is" Ajahn Sumedho says: "We can decide not to do evil. We don’t have to kill, lie, steal, distract ourselves and drug ourselves or get lost in moods and feelings. We can be free from all that. It’s a wonderful opportunity in the human form to refrain from evil and to do good – not in order to store up merit for the next life, but because this is the beauty of our humanity. Being a human can be a joyful experience rather that an onerous task." My own view is that I think that I should do my best to practice the Dharma and do what I can for other beings. However, I feel that understanding emptiness both conceptually and in meditation, isn't rocket science, nor something unattainable. It comes through practice and relaxing and letting go, rather than obsessing about the necessity to store up merit before one can understand it. Sharing merit is a very nice thought though, and helps one to be be motivated by generosity towards others. Finally, "All that is subject to arising is subject to ceasing," as is clinging to beliefs of one kind or another. With metta, D-A
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