The Importance of Attention When Performing Wholesome Karma

When performing dharma giving or any other good deeds, one should have a good intention (manaskāra), sincerely hoping in one's heart that others may thereby obtain various benefits. Once such a wish is generated, not only will Dharma-protecting deities help bring it to fulfillment, but one's own tathāgatagarbha will also help bring it to fulfillment. In this way, the recipient of the giving will have a response, receive blessings, feel happy, be more receptive to the giving, open up their mind, and give rise to wisdom. Thus, a good karmic connection is formed. One thereby also increases one's own merit and virtue, achieving twice the result with half the effort. Both self and other benefit, and the matter is accomplished perfectly.

The mind can change everything, similar to the dedication of merit (pariṇāma). Once a person's good thought is emitted, it generates magnetic power, and the energy of the magnetic field is enhanced, making it easy to influence and attract others. When one's intention is sincere, there will be blessing power and guiding power, and the other party will have a spiritual response, reading with ease and joy, and the effect will be good. Blessing prayers and aspiration mantras serve this function. When others receive blessings and assistance and become better, one's own merit and virtue naturally become greater. This is called benefiting self and others; the one who delivers others is delivering oneself. This applies to doing anything: put your mind into it, do things with a sincere heart, do things with focused attention — anything can be done well. Cook rice and it will be fragrant; raise flowers and they will flourish; grow vegetables and they will yield abundantly; conduct business and it will succeed easily.

Each person's intention differs, and the results are vastly different. When others feel your sincerity, they will respond to your sincerity, and the return will come quickly. Why is it that some people, when interacting with others, are liked by others? Because they have a sincere mind and a focused mind. When goodwill is sent out, others can feel it and will also respond and echo — this is the effect. In the Avataṃsaka Sūtra, the Bhagavān taught us that when doing anything, one should recite the corresponding mantras, hoping that others will obtain good fruits, blessing and wishing that others will obtain the merit and benefits of wholesome dharmas. When the blessing prayers are fulfilled, sentient beings benefit, and one will obtain the corresponding merit and fortune. Benefiting others necessarily benefits oneself.