Perfect Goodness: Don't Make Merit Blindly

At the start of a new year, everyone seeks their own joy. Some choose drinking and gambling; others choose to visit a temple to hear the Dharma. This difference lies not in circumstances, but in the nature of each person's mind. But there is something more important: whether you are happy or sad, have you ever asked yourself how you live with goodness? Is merely not doing evil enough, or must we strive for something more—a perfect goodness?

What is goodness?

From the moment we are born, society has conditioned us to live kindly with one another. Just as in commerce we must use real money or gold, in our dealings with others, we are only permitted to use "goodness" as our currency. Speaking politely, not cursing, not stealing, not harming others—these are the implicit rules any society sets. But because it is enforced from outside, many people only restrain the evil within their hearts rather than truly destroying it. They act well out of fear of the law or public opinion, not from a natural kindness.

"I must become a good person and not be permitted to become an evil one. Everyone understands that."

But Buddhism does not stop there. Buddhism teaches us to seek out and eradicate the evil within at its root, not merely suppress it. As long as we are only suppressing it, we remain weary and at risk of an outburst. Only when we have truly purified the mind can we attain genuine peace.

Perfect goodness is not a reckless gamble.

Many people mistakenly believe that to make merit, they must give everything, even sacrifice their life. But this can become a reckless act lacking wisdom. The teacher tells of an old friend who, too eager to make merit, borrowed over two hundred million to offer to a monk—only to discover it was a scam. In the end, he went bankrupt, had to flee from debt, and lost his home. That is not perfect goodness; that is a harmful mistake.

"Perfect goodness is not a reckless gamble. It involves discernment and wisdom so that the good deed we do is precise."

Therefore, making merit requires the right person, the right cause, the right time, and proportionate effort. Don't offer all your wealth just to hear praise and then suffer afterwards. Don't give money just because you see someone crying, without knowing if their need is genuine. Wisdom must accompany compassion for a virtuous act to truly generate blessings from merit.

Being kind to one person but unkind to another.

There is another story: a laywoman wanted to donate one hundred million to the temple, but that sum was set aside for her daughter's university education. The teacher advised her to let her daughter study, as her child's education was more important than building the temple at that moment. If she took that money and offered it to the temple, it might be kind to the temple but unkind to her own child—robbing her of an education and leaving her future uncertain.

"Perfect goodness is not about giving offerings beyond what you can afford. Because the blessings from merit haven't returned yet, but the debt is yours to bear. That is extremely dangerous."

Similarly, some secretly take their husband's money to go make merit, thinking they are accumulating virtue. But if this causes family discord and distress for husband and children, is that goodness? Making merit while sowing distrust and causing division in the family—what meaning does such merit have? Remember: goodness must arise from harmony, harming no one.

A lesson from history: Sacrifice in the right place.

Lê Lai's sacrifice to save Lê Lợi is a shining example of noble sacrifice. But if one were to sacrifice one's life for an addict living a pointless life, would that be perfect goodness? Certainly not. Our life is precious; we can still do many beneficial things for the world. Sacrifice must be at the right time, for the right person, for the right cause. That is the wisdom within compassion.

"There are those good people for whom sacrifice is meaningful. For example, Lê Lai saving the Lord when Lê Lợi was surrounded by Ming forces."

A person with wisdom will consider which actions are worth taking and which are not. One does not rush in to help anyone who suffers without assessing one's own capacity, whether the person is worthy, and whether the action will bring lasting benefit.

Striving for perfect goodness.

Each day, ask yourself: Have I lived my best? Have I helped anyone? Have I done anything for the world? Do not be content with "harming no one." Strive to make each day a better, kinder day. That is the path of the wise.

"One who has already cultivated a foundation of goodness and has the conditions to know the Buddha's teachings should never accept tiny acts of goodness. One must strive in this life to rise and achieve perfect goodness."

Perfect goodness is not something distant; it lies in the small, everyday decisions we make. Use wisdom to illuminate your compassion, so that every virtuous act we perform is directed to the right person, the right cause, at the right time, and with the right measure. Only then will blessings from merit be truly complete, and our mind and heart find genuine peace and ease.