But should one go further — giving voice to words of praise and encouragement, and then inviting and drawing others to join in wholesome endeavor — these acts shall become a store of merit that accompanies one through all that follows. Whatever wholesome undertaking one may pursue in the days and years to come, there shall be those in abundance who are ready to cheer one on, to lend their support, and to offer their encouragement without reserve. This is the ānisamsa — the noble fruit and benefit — of the anumodanā of merit.

By contrast, should one partake in the anumodanā of demerit — let one take the utmost care never to err or falter in the days ahead. For there shall be those who stand ready to compound one’s every misfortune, to press down upon one without mercy, and to ensure that one is given no opportunity to rise again.

March 17^th, 2020

Should it be something wholesome and good, and one rejoices in that goodness, or lends one’s support and encouragement to that wholesome endeavor — this is what the ancients have termed anumodanā in merit — the sharing in and rejoicing of another’s wholesome kamma.

However, should something harmful and unwholesome occur, and one rejoices in it — or takes satisfaction in another’s misfortune, thinking: “How fitting that they have met with such an end” — then this becomes nothing other than anumodanā in demerit — the sharing in and rejoicing of another’s unwholesome kamma.

When one partakes in anumodanā of demerit, one receives a share of that demerit in kind. When one partakes in anumodanā of merit, one receives a share of that merit in kind. Let this be held with vigilance and care.

March 17^th, 2020

The Master Nun replied,

“Whatever we do — the mind records it all. Every word we have spoken, whether wholesome or unwholesome, is recorded. Everything we have seen, everything we have done — the mind records it all as images, both the wholesome and the unwholesome alike.

These images do not perish or dissolve into nothingness. As one draws near to the moment of death, they shall be rewound and played back before one’s inner eye — a summation, a reckoning of both demerit and merit, replaying themselves in full.

But for one who has made abundant merit and accumulated great goodness — the images of merit and virtue shall surge forward and play first. They shall project without end, image upon image of merit that does not exhaust itself. Such a person, at the hour of death, shall be satiated with merit. Their mind shall be clear and luminous — and they shall depart well.

As for those who have made little or no merit — go and invite them, draw them to come and make merit together, that they may learn the way of merit-making. For otherwise, when the images are rewound and played back, there shall be nothing but images of darkness and defilement. The heart shall become clouded and turbid — and with a clouded heart at death, one shall not depart well.

Whoever you love, whoever you hold in genuine goodwill — go and invite them. Bring them to make merit together.”

March 11^th, 2014

“May I never turn back and give rise to regret over the wealth with which I have made merit — for in times past, there were many great men of immense fortune who, having prospered abundantly in the early years of their lives, fell into ruin and bankruptcy in their middle years. When the Perfectly Enlightened One, the Lord Buddha, was asked why this had come to pass, He examined the matter with penetrating clarity and found that in a former existence, such a person had at first made merit with great joy and gladness — yet at some point thereafter, for reasons unknown, regret over the wealth thus offered had arisen within them, and they had thought: ‘Had I known it would come to this, I would never have given at all.’ Through this arising of regret, the continuity of their merit was severed and broken. And so it was that one who had once known great wealth and success — at the very moment when regret arose within them — saw their merit vanish in an instant, and ruin came upon them with ease.”

Let this aspiration therefore be cultivated and held with the utmost steadfastness and care.

May 12^th, 2014

When one has made merit, let a firm and wholehearted aspiration accompany the act: “By the power of the wholesome merit accumulated through this act of generosity — from this moment forth, whenever I shall make merit or offer in giving, may I never know regret in the aftermath.” This aspiration must be held with steadfast care and intention.

Beyond the absence of regret, let the heart be filled with genuine joy — such that even the offering of a single baht brings a gladness as full and complete as though one had offered a billion. This is the standard to be aspired to and cultivated.

Yet for the heart to rejoice at the level of one baht as though it were a thousand million, there is this to be entrusted to reflection: the heart must be truly and thoroughly satiated within the merit itself — and must perceive with clarity the full measure of benefit that this act of merit-making has brought forth.

1. In what ways does this act of merit benefit oneself — in this present life and in all lives to come?
2. In what ways does it benefit one’s family — in this present life and in all lives to come?
3. In what ways does it bring benefit to one’s nation, and extending further still, to all beings throughout the world?
4. And in what ways shall the merit one has made here serve as a benefit to the continuation and flourishing of the Buddhist Dispensation?

Should one be able to perceive these four dimensions of benefit with clarity and vividness, then even the offering of a single baht shall fill the mind with joy as boundless as though one had offered a thousand million. And from that place of inner fullness and gladness, one is most welcome to aspire further still — to dedicate and resolve one’s merit toward ever higher and more far-reaching purposes.

12 May 2014

“A tree, the moment it is planted, cannot be expected to bear fruit at once — it is not yet so. In the same way, for merit to ripen and yield its fruit, one must equally allow merit its own time…”

8 May 2020

If one’s merit is scarce, then no matter how great or how small the changes that occur in the world, whatever one sets one’s hand to or endeavors to accomplish will be difficult to bring to fruition. But if one’s merit is abundant, then no matter how the world may change, progress and prosperity will remain within one’s own hands.

October 18^th, 2015

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 17^th. 2012

Therefore, make merit for them diligently and without fail. When they receive this merit, those among them who have gone to an unfavorable state will find their condition improved. And those who have already gone to a good place — upon receiving the merit we dedicate to them — will feel even greater love for us. Those who have become celestial beings and angelic presences will cast their gaze upon us and watch over us, attending to the welfare of these descendants who still live upon this earth.

Our beloved Thailand will know ever greater peace and happiness. With the ancestral celestial beings and angelic presences bestowing their blessings and following to protect us, happiness and prosperity will increase all the more. This is truly something good that must be done.

January 26^th, 2016