Do Not Keep Merit Only for Yourself

📖Master’s Reading

In practice we often have the illusion: if I dedicate merit to beings, what is left for me? Yet the truth of the dharmadhātu is: all the merit of practice should, in blessing, be entirely offered out — never keep it on yourself. In practice this is called "All offer."

Why can merit not be privately kept? Keeping merit on yourself instead breeds greed within. If practice is only for oneself, the spirit shrinks, forever calculating only "will I get better?" This is not only a selfish recitation but makes the karmic creditors waiting bitterly for redemption resentful, instead keeping you from getting better.

True wealth is not having but sharing, and so is merit. The core goal of practice is to share benefit with beings. When you are willing to dedicate selflessly, taking out the merit you hold to share with all, this thought breaks the clinging of the "small self" and lets the mind gain true freedom. Do not fear that sending merit out leaves you with nothing; when you no longer grip merit and open your heart to share blessing with others, goodwill truly flows and finally becomes a mightier power returning into your life.

🌱Reflection for Daily Life

• Understand that the merit of practice must be entirely offered.
• Merit privately kept easily breeds greed.
• Break the clinging of the small self and share with all.
• Let goodwill flow and become a mighty power.
• True wealth is not having but sharing.