“Māwamaññētha puññassa na man tan āgamissati
Udabindu nipātēna udakumbhōpi poorati
Poorati dhiiro puññassa thōka thōkampi ācinan”(Dhammapada – Pāpa Vagga)
“Don’t ignore even a small merit thinking that it will not come to you! It is in fact with each drop of water that a pot is filled. Therefore, a wise person will collect all merits even if it is by bit by bit. In this way, his life will full with merits at the end.”
“Puññan chē purisō kairā kairā thētan punappunan
Tamhi chandan kairātha sukhō puññassa uccayō(Dhammapada – Pāpa Vagga)
“If that man is performing an action that brings him merits, he should do it again and again. He should be fond of the merit that he is collecting. It is the pleasure what the merits develop.”
“Chirappavāsin purisan dūratō sotthimāgatan
Gnātimittā suhajjā cha abhinandanti aagatan
Tathēva kata puññampi asmā lōkā parangatan
Puññāni patiganhhanti piyao gnātiiva aagatan”(Dhammapada – Piya Vagga)
“When a man safely arrives home after living abroad for a long time, he is lovingly welcomed by his relatives. Similarly, one who collected merits very well will be welcomed by his merits towards the pleasure when he is moving from the present life to the next life at his death.”
“Yathāpi puppharāsimhā – kairā mālā gunhē gahu
Eevan jātēna maccēna – kattabban kusalan bahun”(Dhammapada – Puppha Vagga)
“Like a person who collects flowers makes many garlands with that collected flowers, one who got a human life should try to cultivate actions of Kusala.”
The ‘merit’ is well described in the teachings of the Supreme Buddha. He showed us the importance of the merits because He knew about the pleasure the beings will get as a result of the merits they accumulated. Worshiping Stupas is one special way to cultivate merits. The Supreme Buddha preached about it as follows:
“Dear Ananda, why is it important to build Stupas enshrined with the relics of the Samma Sambuddha and worship them? Ananda, many people will come to see these Stupas and please their minds about the fact that ‘this is the Stupa built enshrining the Tathāgatha Buddha’s relics.’ The outcome of such mental admiration will be their rebirths in Sugati (divine) worlds after their deaths.
(Maha Parinibbānha Sutta – Deegha Nikaya)
There are many people in this world who perceived the happiness/pleasure because of his/her merits. Once, the Arahant Moggallāna appeared in a divine world and asked a female divine being (Divya Apsarā) about the reason for her divine pleasure. She then answered the Thero as,
“On that day, I went to a Stupa worshiping. I saw someone had offered the Most Exalted One’s Stupa some flowers untidily. I arranged those flowers orderly and offered them again. I did it by contemplating the great qualities of the Buddha. It was a miracle. The merits I obtained on that instance were supernaturally powerful. That is why I got a wonderful beauty and a life full of pleasure like this.”
The merit is an esteemed and a great thing. A rewarding use of the human life that we rarely got is the cultivation of merits. All of us (lay people and Bhikku/Bhikkhuni) who take refuge in the Triple Gem should try to cultivate merits by reminding the Dhamma preached by the Supreme Buddha.
As Sri Lankans, we are fortunate to have many reverend items that we could worship and gain merits. The branch of the Sri Mahā Bōdhi Tree resides in this meritorious island. We also have the Tooth Relic, the great Stupa Swarnāmali enshrined with the Gautama Buddha’s many (drōnhayak) relics, and many more Stupas enshrined with the Buddha’s relics around the country. This brings us the opportunity of worshiping these Stupas and acquiring merits. This is in fact one of the advantages of being the disciples who took refuge in the Triple Gems.
There are only few wise people in this world who would believe in the ‘merit’ and its results. The Gautama Buddha says:
“Idha nandati pecca nandati – kata puññō ubhayattha nandati
puññan mē katanti nandati – bhiiyō nandati suggatin gatō”(Dhammapada – Yamaka Vagga)
“One who acquires merits will be happy in this world, in the next world, and in both worlds. That person will be happy thinking that ‘I performed many deeds that will bring me merits.’ He will be very happy after being born in a Sugati world.”
May all be admiring the merits! May all be joyful by the merits! May they get pleasure by the merits! That is the words of the Supreme Buddha.
By Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
