4. Importance of sincerity

In the previous article, I mentioned the correct way to gain "福" or Merit Accumulation. Here, we shall analyze how those actions, which are defined as “Merit Accumulations” or increasing of our "福" –the essence of positive energy- are made possible.

For example, when we buy a Buddha statue and consecrate it. We put it on the shrine. We do some offerings such as flowers, lamps, fruits and etc, this action brings us “福". When we offer food or anything to a member of Sangha, this gives us the merit accumulations in return. We offer to print or help to print Dharma books, these are actions to increase Merit Accumulation. But are these actions mentioned, same as actions of trying to buy "福"? Some people may think so, because in both circumstances, we have to spend money on them. We do this to gain "福”.

However, for Merit Accumulations or gaining "福”, we have to be sincere with right motivation. When we offer to Buddha, the action itself signifies appreciation of Buddha’s Teachings and Buddha’s Activity etc., and we should bear these in our mind. Whenever we do offerings to Sangha and Dharma, we do it with correct motivations. In this way, we are creating positive energy through positive action. When we appreciate the Buddha, we are appreciating the activity of benefiting others, appreciating the teachings which will give us wisdom and freedom from ignorance, and also motivating ourselves to become like Buddhas to benefit others. Hence, those actions are not only for ourselves, but bear a great significance of benefiting all sentient beings. As the result of that, those actions can generate much essence of positive energy -"福” - to oneself and others. That is the difference from the action of buying Lucky Charm Items, which is mostly intend for benefiting oneself only.

In Buddhist practice, we sincerely dedicate all our merits gained to the Enlightenment of all sentient beings. This action brings great benefit to others and oneself. Dedication of merit is just like dropping a spoonful of water into the ocean. A spoonful of water will dry up in a few days. But when this spoonful of water is dropped into the ocean, the amount of this spoonful of water will never dry up.

When we do positive action, we accumulate "福”. Offering to The Triple Gems- Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, is a positive action, which will generate positive energy as described above. When our positive energy ("福”) increased, it combines with effort, skilful means, right timing etc, to be transformed into whatever form of things we need. It is necessary to have lots of "福” for our wishes to come true. In short, our wish to have a good life will come true.

3. Can we buy "福"?

In the old days, people knew that when they wished to get crops, they would have to sow the seeds into the earth and would then water them. They would take the necessary steps of taking care of the seeds until these seeds germinated and grew to maturity to bare fruits. They would wait patiently for the harvesting time. However, as the society becomes more developed, we get more impatient. We want everything to be fast. We want things to be auto operated. We want a supermarket to supply everything we need so that we just go into one of them with some money or a credit card and we hope to get everything of our daily needs. Life has become so convenient and comfortable. When we need something, a service or a material thing, we just have to buy it. This is the system of getting things in our society…..we buy, buy and buy! Then it becomes a strong habit for us. We think that everything can be bought. This habit of buying and collecting has become our second nature. We, the human beings, have become less patient and tolerant.

Thus, when we come to dealing with "福", we believe that we can also buy it. In our Asian societies, when we are unlucky in certain ways in our daily lives, or business is down, or fail to pass an exam, or cannot get a good job, cannot find Mr./Miss Right, cannot get promotion, cannot give birth to a child and etc. etc … we think we are lacking of "Good Luck". So what do most of these people would do? Most of them would go and buy Good Luck Charm!

Many people try to do that nowadays. Have you ever buy some kind of "Power Stone" necklace or bracelet? Or a toad made of brass, having a duplicated old big coin in its mouth? Or a carved jade dragon, and etc. being sold in retailed shops or supermarkets. Many Asian Chinese believe that these items possess Good Luck Charm. They believe that these items can attract "福" for its owner. Do you think so?

Many people think that lacking of "福" is just like having a headache. When they experience a headache, they would take a headache pill such as paracetamol and wait for 30 minutes, hopefully the headache would go away. By buying and possessing those things so called Lucky Charm Items, these people are expecting their bad situations would be overcome. This action is just like taking palacetamol for curing a headache. They would wear or put them on the shrine or at the place recommended by a “Fen Sui master”. At the beginning they would feel happy about the whole thing. They think that they are getting some good energy from them. But after some time, their problems - financial situation or whatever – remain unsolved, or became worse, then they would think of getting more “powerful ones". In this way, they go on "shopping" and have their homes crowded with Lucky Charm Items!

Those of you who have already read my earlier two articles may realize by now that there is no paracetamol for curing the lacking of "福". When we are in a situation of Lacking of "福”, as most of us do, we could treat this situation for ourselves as having contracted a chronic disease or a sickness. It would require time to cure it. We would take the medicine regularly as given to us by our doctors. If the drugs given to us have side effects, as most of the drugs do, we may have to take some natural or traditional herbal medicines. We should be selective in our diets and do exercise daily if possible. Through this way, slowly but steadily, we would be able to cure our chronic disease completely. Our body have been lacking of some nutrients, accumulating cholesterol, breathing in the polluted air, taking in wrong foods etc. for so long, we would not expect to get cured by just taking one paracetamol.

The only remedy for Lacking of "福" is constantly doing Merit Accumulation. We accumulate “福” wherever and whenever we can. It must be a constant practice. We should try to make use of every opportunity to do it. Just like we have to eat every day. To live today, we have to consume energy from what we eat today. So is "福" too. We are using it everyday,. This means that we are loosing (consuming) it everyday. So we need to replace the amount of "福" we have consumed, even just for staying alive! If we wish to have something big or better, something special, or wish to change the negative situation to be positive, we need to have much more "福" to accomplish them.

Then, what is actually the essence of the action that can create “福”? There is a significant difference between buying Lucky Charm Items and that of Merit Accumulations, I shall continue in the next article.