Regularly reviewing the good deeds, you have performed is a form of rejoicing in your own merit (Anumodana).
Is this practice correct according to spiritual principles? Yes, it is. The Lord Buddha himself set this example. On the day of His Enlightenment, when the armies of Mara approached, the Lord Buddha did not engage in physical combat. Instead, He sat in meditation and reflected upon the merit He had accumulated—not just in that lifetime, but across countless previous existences.
It was this power of merit that the Buddha used to conquer the King of Maras. It was also this same power that He invoked to overcome the Great Plague in the city of Vaishali over 2,000 years ago.
Therefore, do not panic beyond reason during a crisis. Do not be defiant toward medical advice, and do not violate the law. Whatever the legal regulations require, follow them. Meanwhile, remain centered in merit—both by performing new wholesome deeds and by reviewing or “calling upon” your past merit. By doing so, you will certainly remain safe.
March 1st, 2020
