Wenda20130421A 28:47
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MERITS DERIVED FROM PERFORMING RECITATION AND HELPING OTHERS TO BECOME SPIRITUALLY AWAKENED
Caller: Performing recitations, and propagating dharma to help others spiritually awaken will help accumulate merits. Apart from the difference in amount of the merits generated, are they essentially the same?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Both are meritorious deeds, but the merits generated from helping others to be awakened spiritually is probably greater than that of performing recitations.
Caller: Is it because it is a type of Dharma Giving, so it is more meritorious?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Exactly! In fact, performing recitation is also a form of Dana (Buddhist practice of giving). Why is it so? Because such an act enables us to gain enlightenment and achieve a state of tranquillity, so that we can improve ourselves before being able to help other sentient beings.
To put this into perspective, if the merit gained is 20% for each recitation, then it would be 50% for helping others to become spiritually awakened. In other words, both are kind deeds, although the latter is a much greater deed. Ultimately, both deeds can help accumulate merits, albeit to different extents.
Caller: Is it an act of giving if we help others to recite Little Houses?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes.