พระอาจารย์อธิบายว่าบุญที่ส่งมามีคุณภาพเท่ากัน แต่ความสามารถในการรองรับบุญต่างกันตามคุณภาพของใจ พระมีศีล 227 ข้อและกลไกของพระนิพพานทำให้ธาตุธรรมบริสุทธิ์รองรับบุญได้ดีกว่า ส่วนฆราวาสยังปนด้วยอกุศล จึงต้องเรียนรู้ศีล สมาธิ ปัญญา เพื่อหลุดพ้นสู่มิติที่ละเอียดกว่าPra Ajarn explains that the merit sent is equal in quality, but the capacity to receive it differs according to the quality of the mind. A monk's 227 precepts and the mechanism of nibbana make the elements pure, receiving merit better; a layperson's is still mixed with the unwholesome, so one must learn morality, concentration, and wisdom to be liberated into subtler dimensions.
Someone asked: a monk's handful of merit equals a mountain, but a layperson's mountain of merit equals only a handful — why? Including meditation, if one sits for the same length of time.
The Merit Sent Is Equal in Quality, but the Capacity to Receive Differs
In truth the merit sent is equal in quality, but the capacity to receive it differs, depending on the quality of the mind, which is controlled by the three natural forces — hence the difference.
A Monk's 227 Precepts and the Mechanism of Nibbana Receive Merit Better
Because a monk has 227 precepts, along with other s and the mechanism of nibbana, the elements become clean and pure, liberated onward, giving a better capacity to receive merit. A layperson's dimension of dwelling is still mixed with the three natural forces — the proportions of and the neutral. In truth the neutral isn't much of a problem; it's the unwholesome that blocks receiving merit fully.
Learn Morality, Concentration, and Wisdom to Be Liberated Into Subtler Dimensions
To receive merit fully, we must learn and understand morality, concentration, and wisdom, to be liberated from a coarse dimension into subtler ones, on and on — and the quality of merit becomes ever more refined, clean, and pure.