Merit Dedication for Non-Buddhists
Merit Dedication for Non-Buddhists
Compiled by Pittaya Wong & Team
on 17 December 2015
www.meditation101.org
What is dedication of merit? Dedication
of merit is an amazing practice which allows the ‘merit,’ the pure energy that
occurs in our mind, when we have wholesome thought, speech, and action, to be
dedicated to others. We may compare the merit energy to the transferable
electricity or frequency which cannot be seen with naked eyes. However, the
difference is that the merit dedicator does not lose his or her merit energy
when s(he) dedicates merit to others. When someone dedicates merit, and the
dedicated person accepts it willingly (appreciating or rejoicing in the
dedicated merit either mentally and/or physically), merit energy will occur in
both the dedicator’s and the dedicated person’s mind as their minds become
meritorious. This is like lighting up the first torch and use this first torch to
light up other torches. However, the merit energy which occurs to the dedicated
person’s mind is only around 10 to 20% of the original merit volume in the
dedicator’s mind depending on the level of appreciation of the dedicated
person. Dedication of merit can be made either to living or diseased persons.
The important thing is that the dedicated persons must know about the
dedication and accept the dedicated merit with appreciation. If the dedicated
persons are alive, the merit dedicator should inform them, so they can
acknowledge or accept the dedication. If the dedicated persons passed away
already, the merit dedicator should have a strong will to inform the spirits of
the dedicated persons. If the dedicated persons’ spirits are in the realms that
make it difficult for them to receive the merit, they may not be able to
receive the merit energy properly. This is like sending a gift to your beloved
one as a registered parcel. If the recipient does not sign to accept the
parcel, the gift is not well received. Also, if the gift is sent to a recipient
who lives in a country which is having a war, the gift may not be well received
as well. It is the same to the spirit of the dedicated person who is being
punished in any of the hell realms, it is difficult for him to receive the
dedicated merit. Although it is hard to know if the dedicated persons receive
merit energy from the dedicator or not (except that you check with your insight
power gained from meditation practice), the merit dedicator always earns more merit
energy from dedicating merit because his mind becomes even more ‘meritorious’
whenever he does the merit dedication. The accumulated merit energy in one’s
mind is crucial as it can bring about happiness, prosperity, success, benefits,
as well as enlightenment to the merit owner.
Words for Merit Dedication
“I
…………………….. would like to recollect all the meritorious deeds I have done since
my first lifetime until now such as the merit gained from ……………………………………and
dedicate to the Wholesome and Holy Lord(s) throughout the existence.
I would like to dedicate all of my
merit to the monarchs, royalties, presidents, prime ministers, and the leaders
of my country and other countries all over the world.
I would like to dedicate all of my
merit to my wholesome masters and teachers, people of my country and all over the
world, my preceptors, school and university teachers, my ancestors,
grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, relatives, husbands, wives, sons,
daughters, children, grandchildren, descendants, family members, friends,
associates, followers, spiritual fellows, those whom I am indebted to,
superintendants, subordinates, my family’s celestial guardians, all of the
aforesaid, in every lifetime of mine.
I would like to dedicate all of my
merit to those who secure my country such as the polices, firemen, veterans,
and army soldiers, and those who secure and promote the wholesome and righteous
religions both in my country and all over the world.
I would like to dedicate my merit to
the wholesome gods and goddesses of all levels, deities, celestial beings,
spirits, the supernormal guardians (kayasiddhi), and others, who
promote, look after, protect, guard, and secure me, my family, the wholesome
religions, the public places and public properties, all of the aforesaid,
throughout the existence.
I would like to dedicate my merit to
those whom I used to harm either mentally, verbally, and physically. May all of
them know about my merit sharing and accept the shared merit, then kindly
forgive me for all of my unwholesome deeds. May my bad karma(s) be lessened or
forgiven completely.
I would like to dedicate my merit to
the judges, secretaries and officials of purgatory hells, and punished beings
in the purgatory hells and other hells of all levels and zones throughout the
existence.
I would like to dedicate my merit to
astral bodies, spirits, ghosts, hungry ghosts, demons, and monsters everywhere
either near or afar throughout the existence.
I would like to dedicate my merit to
my family’s pets and animal companions,
and all other sentient beings both in the wholesome and unwholesome realms
throughout the existence.”
“May all
of the dedicated ones know about my merit dedication and accept the dedicated merit.
With the power of merit that the dedicated ones receive from me, may they and I
become purer mentally, verbally, and physically… May they and I become even
more righteous and wholesome only, as well as being prosperous in the
wholesomeness and righteousness. May they and I become more beautiful,
wisdomful, radiantful, graceful, peaceful, happier, healthier, wealthier, and
have more beneficial virtuous subordinates and fellows, praise, gain, fame, as
well as attaining the ultimate truth of life forevermore. May the merit yields
only wholesome results to them and myself forevermore.”
