The Principles of Merit Accumulation and Dissipation

The blessings used for spiritual cultivation are insufficient for all sentient beings. Therefore, while continuously cultivating and creating blessings, one must also strive to conserve them diligently. Blessings vanish swiftly; once enjoyed, they dissipate. Boasting about oneself to destroy others, or receiving praise from others, consumes blessings. Creating unwholesome karma—such as hatred, jealousy, slander, divisive speech, or harsh words—causes blessings to disappear. Of course, performing wholesome deeds increases blessings. Benefiting others and communities enhances blessings. Elevating one's moral character and cultivating a kind heart increases blessings. Meditation augments blessings. Extensive learning augments blessings. Upholding precepts augments blessings. Practicing forbearance augments blessings. And certainly, all forms of giving greatly increase blessings. Some people prefer to engage extensively in giving; though originally possessing considerable blessings, they often feel devoid of blessings and encounter obstacles in all endeavors. Why is this? The reason is that such individuals are heavily burdened by afflictions, habitually create unwholesome karma, frequently lose their temper, harbor resentment, envy others, and habitually exclude or compete aggressively with others in their work. Those who are contentious and aggressive find it difficult to accumulate blessings; instead, they deplete them. Jealousy, exclusion, and harming others' interests are all actions that inherently diminish one's own blessings. 

Kindness in thought, speech, and action is the path to accumulating blessings. Conversely, being heavily influenced by afflictions and habitual tendencies, possessing a narrow mind, engaging in harmful speech such as gossip, committing unwholesome physical actions, and harboring selfish intentions—all these constitute conduct that erodes blessings. Afflictions are also called "leakage" (āsrava). With this leakage present, it becomes difficult to accumulate wholesome karma and blessings. Whatever little blessing one possesses leaks away due to afflictions. Hence, blessings are perpetually insufficient; misfortunes occur frequently, the mind remains unsettled, and spiritual progress lacks steadfastness. When people encounter illness, troubles, or disasters, they often assume these occur naturally, believing everyone experiences them, and thus grow accustomed to them. They never reflect on the causes behind their illnesses, setbacks, and various dissatisfactions. Consequently, they fail to learn from these experiences and transform themselves. Thus, suffering and distress persistently accompany them, and nothing they undertake proceeds smoothly.