Merit Should Flow in Three Parts

📖Master’s Reading

Practice and life were never an extreme either-or. Some, on learning Buddhism, donate all their resources yet leave their family in hardship, inevitably breeding household resentment; some selfishly keep the good for themselves, which cuts off the connection to the dharmadhātu's blessing.

The truth of the dharmadhātu is that truly complete practice lies in the balanced distribution of the "golden ratio." Whether money, time or the merit of practice, it is advised to cut into three parts: "one-third within the world to fulfil family, one-third beyond the world to benefit beings, one-third for oneself to age well and practice." This is the cosmic balance-law of the "tripod standing on three legs."

The first part, within the world, cares for family and fulfils the household, so there is no complaint or resistance around you; the second part, beyond the world, selflessly benefits poor and suffering beings, accumulating immeasurable provisions of merit and wisdom; the third part, kept for yourself, settles your life so you can practice diligently without worries behind you.

Practice is never mistreating yourself, nor abandoning family. When you know to circulate life's resources in three parts, neglecting no side, this is the fairest and most lasting way to live. When the worldly and the beyond-worldly reach perfect balance, life naturally walks steady and far.

🌱Reflection for Daily Life

• Circulate merit and blessing in three parts; balancing family, beings and self is the lasting way.
• Review your recent allocation of time and resources.
• Understand extremes breed resentment; balance is the lasting way.
• Practice dividing resources evenly among family, beings and self.
• Feel the life-stability and inner peace that three-part flow brings.