The Difference between Blessings and Merit

Sentient beings gain blessings through generosity (dāna), but because the mental attitudes behind giving differ, the blessings gained also differ. The mental attitudes referred to here are whether one gives with a mind of seeking gain, a selfish and self-interested mind, a mind of seeking something, a mind of greed and desire, and so on. If one performs giving with these mental activities, attitudes, and thoughts, one only gains blessings (retribution), not merit (puṇya). "Merit" represents purity of mental activity—being without self and without selfishness, not seeking reward, having nothing one seeks, or not seeking for the sake of personal gain or personal desire, without any impure motives. A pure mind is merit; a mind of purity without desire is merit. Only by giving with such a mind can one gain merit, can one attain the Path, and can one possess the Way.

With merit, there is pāramitā, and one can reach the farther shore of wisdom; without merit, there is no pāramitā, one cannot reach the farther shore of wisdom, and cultivation of the Path will not be accomplished. A mind that seeks something has a very small capacity, so the blessings gained are of course small; a mind that seeks nothing has a very great capacity, so the blessings gained are also great, and the merit is also great.

Therefore, when practicing giving, try not to seek anything, not to have greed or desire, and not to have a utilitarian mind. No matter what one does, if there is craving and seeking, greed and desire, selfishness, impure motives, or an impure mind, there is no merit to speak of. A mind that seeks something has a very small capacity, so the blessings gained are of course small; a mind that seeks nothing has a very great capacity, so the blessings gained are also great, and the merit is also great.

Those who regularly cultivate the practice of giving should calm their minds and reflect upon themselves: what is the purpose of cultivating giving and blessings? Is it pure—solely for the work of the Path, or for sentient beings? If greed and desire are found mixed within it, one must continually purify one's own mind, cleanse the defilements, and remove the coverings. Because if one strives so hard at giving yet only gains blessings without pāramitā, then once the blessings are exhausted, nothing remains—the merit does not exist, and no progress can be made on the work of the Path. Conversely, if one practices giving and cultivates blessings with a mind that seeks nothing and gains nothing, with an altruistic mind, one will gain merit: not only blessings, but also merit. And merit forever belongs to oneself and will never disappear; it is the capital and provisions for accomplishing the work of the Path.