During her lifetime, the Master Nun would remind her students and disciples whenever they were about to drive out on any errand: “Drive carefully — and dwell within your merit.”
We have heard this expression — “dwell within your merit” — for some time. But how exactly is it done? One day, the revered grandmother teacher was heard to explain it clearly: “You — beyond checking that the vehicle’s engine is in good order — you are capable of finding merit, and you must know how to make use of your merit. Set your intention and establish your merit as a protective field, affirming clearly: ‘All the merit I have ever rightly made — in its entirety, in full density — from childhood to the present, across however many lifetimes have passed — let all of that merit protect both myself and my vehicle. Let no misfortune or danger of any kind come to disturb us.
‘And in particular — even should someone’s lifespan be drawing to its end, even should they be about to encounter misfortune as the result of harmful kamma accumulated in the past — by the power of my merit, let nothing befall anyone nearby. If another vehicle is destined to break down, let it not break down in the vicinity of mine. Let nothing come to be entangled with my vehicle, and let nothing come to be entangled with me.'”
Therefore, before entering the vehicle, set your intention well. Having done so, enter and drive — extending loving kindness as you go — and allow your merit to protect the entire journey.
August 17th. 2012
