107 - Merit Making

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode, we look at creating merit by intentionally engaging in activities that are good karma. Merit, or good karma, propels our spiritual practice forward. Thus accumulating merit is a central activity of a bodhisattva, one striving for enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, as well as those who believe in the law of karma. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Ten merit-making activities </strong></p> <p> </p> <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Giving (dāna )</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Observing the moral precepts (sīla )</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Meditation (bhāvanā )</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Showing respect to one's superiors (apacāyana )</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Attending to their needs (veyyāvacca )</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Transferring merit (pattidāna )</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Rejoicing at the merit of others (pattānumodana )</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Listening to the Dharma, that is, the Buddha's teachings (dhammasavana )</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Preaching the Dharma (dhammadesanā )</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Having right beliefs (diṭṭhijjukamma )</span></li> </ol> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guru Padmasambhava said, “My realization is higher than the sky. But my observance of karma is finer than grains of flour.”</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One is not a mendicant </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight