How to Accumulate Merit the Fastest?

Question: How can one most quickly increase blessings? Is it possible by exclusively reciting the Diamond Sutra and the Shurangama Mantra?

Answer: Reciting sutras indeed generates blessings. Such blessings are blessings of wisdom, arising from wisdom itself, and are primarily manifested and applied through wisdom. However, it is difficult to say how quickly the seeds of these meritorious deeds will ripen, when conditions will be complete, and when the blessings will manifest and be enjoyed. Generally, the realization of blessings through wisdom is not swift; they do not appear immediately. It is even possible that such blessings may not manifest until the end of life, or may not manifest at all. Observing precepts and cultivating meditative concentration also generate blessings. These meritorious deeds manifest in discipline and meditative absorption, enabling the mind to become pure and free from afflictions. However, they do not necessarily result in blessings of wealth and prosperity, nor do they guarantee the pleasures of the five senses related to clothing, food, shelter, and so forth.

There are many channels for generating blessings. Any wholesome, pure action can generate blessings. Therefore, blessings in all aspects should be cultivated comprehensively without bias. Not only do precepts, meditative concentration, and wisdom generate blessings, but also the giving of wealth, the giving of Dharma, the giving of fearlessness, and all actions beneficial to sentient beings can generate blessings. All should be practiced without neglecting any aspect. Otherwise, blessings become partial and incomplete, remaining flawed and imperfect, resulting in karmic retribution that cannot fully satisfy one’s wishes. Naturally, this makes it even more impossible to attain enlightenment. Many people are only interested in studying sutras and learning the Dharma, neglecting and undervaluing other aspects. Consequently, even after many years of study, they remain unchanged. Perhaps this only increases their arrogance, making it more severe. Those devoid of blessings find their afflictions only increasing, never decreasing.

In reality, nothing increases blessings faster than generating the great bodhicitta mind. The World-Honored One, in many Mahayana sutras, urged sentient beings to generate bodhicitta. This is the secret and key to spiritual practice, directly determining the destination of future lives. Where one goes in future lives is also determined by meritorious deeds. Generally, those without blessings fall into the three lower realms to suffer; those with great blessings ascend to the heavens to enjoy bliss, or go to the pure lands of the Buddhas to practice the path near the Buddhas; those with moderate blessings attain human rebirth. Those who generate great bodhicitta possess immense power of aspiration. If the power of their aspiration outweighs their karmic force, then at the end of life, they are not dictated by karmic force nor pulled by it. Instead, they are governed by the power of their aspiration, which determines their rebirth in favorable realms or the pure lands of the Buddhas. Therefore, the blessings obtained from generating great bodhicitta are the fastest and greatest, and lead to the swiftest attainment of Buddhahood. No other blessings can compare to the blessings generated by great bodhicitta.