Highlights:

How should we give and do good to gain merits in this life? Supreme Master Ching Hai tells a Buddhist story ‘Merits in This Life’: a couple wanted to help the victims during a plague but unfortunately they were short of money. In which way did they finally make it? The king was touched by the couples' magnanimous act and granted them official ranks and treasures. Why did the couple enjoy great merits in this life-time? Supreme Master explains: when we do things truly for the good of others, the merits is greater. They were not greedy in the first place and did not seek for wealth. That’s why they got this kind of merits. If we do things deliberately , I’m afraid we will gain nothing.

It’s the same with our spiritual practice. We practice for liberation and happiness. Coming to see Master is also to share beautiful atmosphere and some wisdom instead of seeking merits here. When we do business outside to earn money, if we want to earn a lot with little effort, that’s also greed. Then when we practice, we ask for many visions without practicing diligently or without enough merits. To ask for many visions is also a kind of greed. We should practice with an ordinary mind, and come to see Master with an ordinary mind, just like coming to see a good friend or our love we miss, without any purpose. If he gives us anything, it depends on c his generosity and our worthiness. This is the way it should be, and then we will not be disappointed.