As I have mentioned earlier, Merit Accumulations (福 ) can be gained through positive actions and lost or destroyed through negative actions, moment to moment in our lives. Hence we have to be very careful indeed at all the time, to watch out our actions which are performed through our body, speech and mind. Why? Because when we are lacking the merit accumulation (福 ) we are not going to have good lives.
Sincere motivation (without expectation of returns) is necessary when doing Merit Accumulations (福 ).This is not an easy task. Hence, Merit Accumulations (福) are difficult to gain but easily lost. This is rather similar in dealing with our money. Most of us find it difficult to earn money and save it. But to spend it, everyone can do it excellently. Hence, Credit Card Companies are making millions, year after year, because of the over whelming spending habits of credit card holders.
How are we able to do Merit Accumulations with sincerity? One of the many methods taught by the Buddha is renunciation for worldly gains. Through pure loving kindness and compassion for others, one can work for the benefits for others with sincerity.
The Buddha set an example by giving up his throne to become a monk. Buddha renounced worldly interests such as fame, power, wealth and etc. He created the Sangha community.
The community of Sangha consists of ordained monks or nuns, bodhisattvas, yogis or yoginis. Buddha advocates that Members of Sangha are excellent field for us to sow the seeds of Merit Accumulations. This is very well understood and being carried out in Buddhist countries but not so in non-Buddhist countries although Buddhism is being practiced by the minority people of the country.
Countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others, although Buddhism is being practiced, many of these Buddhist devotees do not understand the meaning of offering to Members of Sangha. Some of the people in these non-Buddhist nations even consider that monks and nuns are defeated people; fail to take challenges, jobless and need financial support. They are the outcasts of the society. They have mental problems and etc. I have met such kind of people having wrong thoughts about monks and nuns.
Once, I was invited to give a Dharma Talk (Teaching on Buddhism) to the members of a Buddhist Association in Malaysia. I was invited by the Chairman to her home for lunch. She introduced me to her husband, and told me that her husband was a retired School Principal. She let her husband know that I was a school teacher too before I became a monk. While she was laying out the dishes for my lunch, she told the husband to attend to me. We sat down on the sofa after greeting each other. We drank our tea and started our conversation. Our conversation went smoothly. He asked me about my travels. I related my travels with enthusiasm to him. Then he asked suddenly.
“Did you become a monk because you had mental problems?”
So I spontaneously replied;
“Well, did you always ask this question to all the monks who visited your home?”
Then I looked closely into his face and asked with a serious tone,
"May I know how they answer?"
He was stunned by my questions. He looked blank, stood up and left with head bending down. This experience in Malaysia was just one of the many I had gone through. There were more stunning questions posted to me during my Travels in various countries as a monk.
Since then, I have found out that many Buddhists in non-Buddhist countries have mistaken the meaning of Merit Accumulations (Taan Boon in Thai language).They think that it is a charity for the monks when they give money or offer meals to them. At another time, I was with a high ranking Tibetan Lama (addressed as Rinpoche). A Buddhist devotee presented to Rinpoche a sum of money in an envelop.
“Rinpoche, this is my contribution to you,” said he.
Then Rinpoche replied;
“Please keep it for yourself. I don't need your contribution. Thank you." He said it politely.
The Buddhist devotee then took back his money and put it into his bag.
The Tradition of Merit Accumulations was started by Buddha himself. It was started more than 2,500 years ago after He had attained His Supreme Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya, India, After spending some time in Bodhgaya, Buddha then went to Sarnath, Varanashi, where He gave His first discourse on The Four Noble Truth to His first 5 disciples. After spending some time with His disciples at Sarnath, Buddha decided to visit His father who was a king, together with His disciples.
After having stayed in His father’s palace for a few months, Buddha told His monks that they had to go to city for allowing people to give alms to them so that the city folks would have the opportunity to accumulate merits. When Buddha and the monks returned from city after gathering alms, the King was rather angry because he thought that his son had brought shame to him. Buddha then explained patiently to His father that receiving alms from public was a Lineage of Buddha. It was His duty to carry out the Tradition handed down by the past Buddhas. This Tradition was to provide opportunities for people to accumulate merits through offering alms to Buddha and monks. It was not an act of begging like the ordinary street beggars. It was an act of loving kindness and compassion for the people. It was an act for benefiting them. From then on, the Tradition of receiving alms from public by members of Sangha was handed down till today.
The present King of Thailand, His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej is 80+ years old now. His Majesty is the longest living reigning monarch in this world, and also the most revered King by His citizens. He is highly well recognized and respected in this Modern World. His Majesty has once been a ordained monk. He took ordination as a Monk for a short period (a few months) when he was a young man. His Majesty went receiving alms from public just like any other monks did. Thus His Majesty the King followed the foot-step of the Buddha.Buddha said that if a person had been ordained as a monk even for a day, he would gain much merits. The merits gained by becoming a monk can benefit seven generations of one's ancestors. Hence, in Thailand, when a member of a family passes away, a member next to kin of the family, usually one of the deceased’s sons or a grandson, will quickly ordain to be a monk for a day, or 3 days or a week or more. He will then dedicate the merits gained by being a monk for that period to the Deceased. It is believed that such a virtuous act will help to bring a good rebirth for the Deceased.
Most of the Thais wish to be monk at least for a short period once in their lifetime. Many Thais take up monkshood for the rest of their lives when they have retired from their professions. I have met a number of these monks who had high academic qualifications. Some even resigned from high positions held in International Companies to take up lifetime monkshood after their children have completed university education.
May the Merit gained through writing this article is dedicated to the enlightenment of all sentient beings especially to the well beings of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej so that H.M. may have long life.
