Why Should We Save Merit Instead of Enjoying It?

In this dharma talk, Venerable Thich Chan Quang reveals the secret to using blessings from merit. They are not meant for personal enjoyment, but should be saved for greater purposes. Discover how to pray and accumulate merit in the truest sense.

Have you ever wondered why some people who do good deeds continue to encounter luck, while others lose everything in a blink of an eye? Is blessings from merit merely a rigid law of cause and effect (karmic law), or is there a secret that makes it more flexible?

### Is Prayer Effective?

Many say that Buddhism is about the law of cause and effect (karmic law) and requires no supplication. This is correct, but incomplete. Sincere prayer is not superstition; it is a way we shape the flow of karma toward goodness.

Venerable Thich Chan Quang recalls a vow he made as a child: "Today I build this road for everyone to pass through. May all who walk this path become my spiritual friends in the future."

Because of this prayer, the merit from building the road did not turn into money or fame. Instead, it transformed into favorable conditions (dependent origination) that brought people to the Dharma. The law of cause and effect (karmic law) still operates, but it is guided by noble intentions.

### Praying for Peace: Small Hearts and Great Hearts

When praying for peace at the beginning of the year, we often pray for ourselves and our families. This reflects a small heart, bringing us peace according to our own merit. But what if we pray with a great heart?

Venerable Thich Chan Quang explains: "With your sincerity and deep love, pray for the peace of this entire country and all humanity."

One person praying for the world may bring slight change, but when everyone prays together, the collective karma of the planet shifts. Like Typhoon Haiyan changing course due to the sincere prayers of many.

### Saving Merit Is Harder Than Creating It

Creating merit is difficult, but saving it is even harder. When we have merit, our natural tendency is to enjoy it. Here lies a paradox:

"The more you save money, the more merit you lose. But the more you save merit, the greater your virtue becomes."

Saving money is often a symbol of greed. Saving merit is an act of restraint and great virtue. Consider the beggar who saved twenty-five bars of gold only to have them stolen. If he had used that wealth to open a business, give charity, or help others, his merit would have become eternal virtue.

### The Danger of Enjoying Merit

When we enjoy our merit openly, people see it as normal. However, if we enjoy merit while our inner reserves are depleted, people feel uneasy. For instance, when a teacher sits on a simple platform, disciples feel comfortable. If the teacher sits on a grandiose throne, people may react negatively.

Therefore, those who understand the Dharma must practice a simple life, limit personal enjoyment, and use merit for the common good. A monastic receiving offerings should not use them personally but dedicate them to the temple and the Sangha.

### Enjoying Blessings Too Quickly

There was a lay Buddhist who spent his life giving charity and making offerings, resulting in great success. He then built a luxurious villa. When he invited his teacher to visit, the teacher rested during lunch and thought internally:

"He is enjoying his blessings too quickly."

Merit is not for personal indulgence. It is true wealth reserved for greater tasks: helping sentient beings, establishing the Buddha's teachings (Dharma), and bringing joy to all creatures.

Reflect on your own life. Are you saving money or saving merit? When opportunities arise to create merit, do not hesitate. But when you possess merit, learn to pause, restrain yourself, and share it with others. That merit will transform into virtue, and great virtue will lead you to accomplish magnificent deeds.