The Importance of Volition in Meritorious Deeds

When performing Dharma offerings or any other virtuous deeds, one should maintain proper motivation, inwardly wishing for others to gain various benefits from it. Once such a wish is sincerely made, not only will Dharma protectors facilitate its fulfillment, but one's own Tathagatagarbha will also contribute to its realization. Consequently, the recipients of the offering will experience resonance, receive blessings, feel joyful, become receptive to the offering, open their hearts, and generate wisdom. Thus, virtuous connections are established, increasing one's own merit and virtue with doubled efficacy. Both oneself and others benefit, accomplishing the matter perfectly.

The power of intention can transform everything. Similar to dedicating merit, once a benevolent thought is generated, it creates magnetism, amplifying the energy field and making it easy to influence others. With utmost sincerity in motivation comes blessing power and guiding force, leading to a mental resonance in others. When read or received, it feels light and pleasant, yielding excellent results. Blessing prayers and vows serve precisely this purpose: when others receive blessings and assistance, improving their condition, one's own merit and virtue naturally increase. This is called "benefiting oneself by benefiting others," and "liberating others is liberating oneself." This principle applies to all endeavors: infuse your sincere intention into whatever you do, act with wholehearted dedication, and maintain focused attention. Then everything can be done well—cooking yields delicious meals, gardening brings flourishing flowers, vegetable planting achieves high yields, and undertakings easily succeed.

The outcome varies greatly depending on each person's intention. When others perceive your sincerity, they respond in kind, and the return comes swiftly. Why do some people interact with others in a way that makes them well-liked? Because their sincere and focused minds radiate goodwill, which others perceive and reciprocate—this is the effect. In the Avataṃsaka Sūtra, the World-Honored One teaches us that when performing any action, we should recite corresponding mantras, wishing for others to attain wholesome results. By making vows for others to gain the merits and benefits of wholesome Dharma, when these vows are fulfilled, sentient beings benefit, and one naturally receives due merit and virtue. Benefiting others invariably benefits oneself.