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Significance Of
Transference Of Merits
According to Buddhism, good deeds or “acts of merit” bring happiness
to the doer both in this world and in the hereafter. Acts of merit are also
believed to lead towards the final goal of everlasting happiness. The acts of
merit can be performed through body, speech or minds. Every good deed produces
‘merit’ (store of positive spiritual well being) which accumulates to the
‘credit’ of the doer. Buddhism also teaches that the acquired merit can be
transferred to others; it can be shared vicariously with others. In other words,
the merit is ‘transferable’ and so can be shared with other persons. The persons
who receive the merit can be either living or departed ones.
The method for transferring merits is quite simple. First some good deeds are
performed. The doer of the good deeds has merely to wish that the merit gained
accrues to someone in particular. This wish can be purely mental or it can be
accompanied by an expression of words.
The wish could be made with the beneficiary being aware of it. When the
beneficiary is aware of the act of wish, then a mutual ‘rejoicing in’ merit
takes place. Here the beneficiary becomes a participant of the original deed by
associating him or herself with the deed done. If the beneficiary identifies him
of herself with both the deed and the doer, he or she can sometimes acquire even
greater merit than the original doer, either because the elation is greater or
because the appreciation of the value of the deed is based on an understanding
of Dharma. Buddhist texts contain several stories of such instances.
The ‘joy of transference of merits’ can also take place with or without the
knowledge of the doer of the meritorious act. All that is necessary is for the
beneficiary to feel gladness in the hearth when he or she becomes aware of the
good deed. If one wishes, one can express joy by saying ‘sadhu’ which means
‘well done’. What is being done is creating a kind of mental or verbal applause.
In order to share the good deed done by another, what is important is that there
must be actual approval of the deed and joy arising in the beneficiary’s heart.
Even if so desired, the doer of a good deed cannot prevent another’s ‘rejoicing
in the merit’ because he or she has no power over another’s thoughts. According
to the Buddha, in all actions, thought is what really matters. Transference is
primarily an act of the mind.
To transfer merit does not mean that a person is deprived of the merit
originally acquired from his or her good deed. One the contrary, the very act of
‘transference’ is a good deed in itself and hence enhances the merit already
earned.
Source: What Buddhists Believe by Chief Reverand Dr.K Sri Dhammananda
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