พระอาจารย์อธิบายว่าบุญเป็นพลังงานที่ค้ำจุนทุกภพภูมิ จึงต้องเชิญเทวาพรหมมาร่วมอนุโมทนา พร้อมตอบคำถามต่อเนื่องเรื่องอานิสงส์เมตตาขณะใจปลื้ม และการอุทิศบุญให้ผู้ล่วงลับThe teacher explains that merit is the energy sustaining every plane of existence, so devas and Brahmas are invited to share in it, then answers follow-up questions on the extra benefit of radiating loving-kindness while joyful, and on dedicating merit to the deceased.
A lay follower asked why the six heavenly realms and sixteen Brahma realms are invited to take part in merit-making ceremonies.
Merit Is the Energy That Sustains Every Plane of Existence — Why Invite Those Who Know Its Value
The teacher illustrated this by recalling a merit dedication once made by a revered teacher for a forest-robe offering, in which devas of every kind — tree-dwelling devas, earth-dwelling devas, sky devas, the six heavens, the sixteen form-Brahma realms, the four formless-Brahma realms, throughout countless universes without number — were invited to come and share in rejoicing over the merit about to be offered. Whoever set their heart on rejoicing fully would receive the merit fully, like someone carrying a bowl brimming with water; whoever's intention was weaker would receive correspondingly less, like water spilling from a bowl carried carelessly.
The teacher continued that merit is desired by all beings, whether or not they realize it, because merit is the energy underlying the sustained existence of every life. A human being's ability to remain in ordinary human form, to walk, to live a normal life, depends entirely on the energy of merit being continuously expended, moment by moment. Devas remain in their existence through merit; Brahmas and formless Brahmas remain in theirs the same way. Even the exchange of material substances or enchanted objects in other realms relies on merit as the medium — much as merit converts into wealth for us to spend in the human world. Nothing at all exists without merit behind it. This is why devas who understand the value of merit — from tree spirits, earth spirits, sky devas, up through the Brahmas and formless Brahmas across the universe — deeply appreciate its worth. The revered teacher wished for these beings, who understand merit's value, to have a share in it too, using boundless that extends across countless universes to send word of the merit being made, so that those who recognize its value could receive the news.
To have a share in that merit, the recipient must set aside all other activity and receive the news with a wholesome mind called mudita, or sympathetic joy. Once the bright, round sphere of mudita arises, it draws in the pure energy called merit, letting it flow in continuously for as long as one abides in that state of sympathetic joy — the longer one abides there, the more merit continues to flow in, producing delight, , success, and the fulfillment of wishes. This is one of the orious action — rejoicing in others' merit — which follows naturally from sharing merit with others. Performing this kind of merit with a loving heart, dedicating merit and inviting others to rejoice in it, helps develop right view, making our own right view more complete. The teacher therefore advised that whenever we perform any act of merit, we should share it, radiating love, , and goodwill through , through the Buddha image within, through the Triple Gem within, directing it so that devas, Brahmas, and formless Brahmas may all rejoice in it too — and then observe carefully what results follow.
He explained further that the lives of beings caught in the cycle of rebirth are governed by two laws: , which is the law of cause, and the law of karma, which is the law of effect. The law of cause is the constant competition among the three natural forces, which we cannot simply leave to chance — we must choose a side and train ourselves to abide with nature, using the tools of the wholesome side to generate good causes. Even the smallest act of merit becomes sealed as a completed sphere of merit, stored within , to be placed onto the timeline of life, whether in the near or distant future.
Does Radiating Loving-Kindness While Joyful Bring Greater Benefit?
Someone in the discussion group asked: if we're meditating or attending a merit ceremony and feel a sense of joy, and radiate loving-kindness during that moment, does the recipient benefit more than if we radiated loving-kindness while feeling neutral?
The teacher explained that the joy felt during meditation or a merit ceremony is a sign that a stream of merit is flowing in, purifying the mind to a degree the mind itself can perceive — and the mind's reaction to that is precisely that feeling of joy. It's like cleaning a cluttered, messy house until it becomes tidy and spotless, then stepping back to see the result and feeling pleased with the effort put into it. That very effort and diligence is what draws in the stream of merit to purify impurities until success is achieved, and that joy is the result appearing. If, during that moment when the mind is clean and pure, we radiate loving-kindness, it will certainly bring greater benefit than radiating it while the mind is merely neutral — because the benefit of radiated loving-kindness depends on both the receiver and the sender. If the receiver's mind at that moment is free of impurity, not overwhelmed by unwholesomeness, they will receive it fully; the same holds for the sender — the purer the sender's mind and the stronger their loving-kindness, the more fully and effectively that stream can be sent out, producing a greater result than at an ordinary moment.
Why Can't Merit Be Received by a Deceased Relative Already Reborn as a Human?
Another follower asked: when dedicating merit to a deceased relative who has already been reborn as a human being, the teacher often says they can't receive it — but how does this differ from radiating loving-kindness to someone we know or can see right in front of us? Why can one situation receive it while the other cannot?
The teacher explained that some kinds of beings can receive merit immediately, but even when a recipient cannot receive it at that particular moment, the merit sent is never wasted. He had once explained that such merit simply waits — for instance, waiting in the realm of the dead — until the moment arrives when that being is able to receive its result. When that moment comes, the merit appears and is received; it is never lost. For example, someone might dedicate merit to relatives currently in the realm of the dead, undergoing suffering to atone for past karma — at that time they cannot yet receive the merit, not until their period of atonement is complete. Then they are brought before the Lord of Death for judgment on where they will be reborn next. At that point, the Lord of Death informs them that a relative has sent merit their way, allowing them to receive its result and be reborn into a better realm. The merit was never lost — it simply remained in a period during which the recipient was not yet able to receive it.