THE MAGNITUDE OF MERITS LIES IN THE INTENTION
Caller: In your early discourses to disciples, Master mentioned, “Distributing dharma books generates tremendous merits, and even Buddhas and Bodhisattvas praise highly of those who distribute dharma books”. Master, exactly how significant are these merits? For fellow practitioners who perform dharma giving online, should the measurement of merits be based on the purity of intention or the amount of sharing they make, that is, changes in the quantity of effort will affect changes in quality?
Master Jun Hong Lu: The fact that you raise such a question indicates that your spiritual level is low. If you were already a Bodhisattva, would you still focus on whether your action generates merits? Does engaging in kind deeds accumulate merits? That goes without saying.
Even by refraining from wrongdoing when others are doing so, you accumulate merits. Why? If you steer clear of committing an evil deed, while others are all over it or when you continue to do good when others are not interested in doing so, wouldn’t these be considered meritorious? The magnitude of merits depends on the purity of your intentions.
Caller: It boils down to one’s aspiration.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me give a simple example: Suppose you sincerely intend to open the door for some fellow Buddhists, and here you are thinking, “I am a protector of the dharma, I am a Bodhisattva”. With such intention, you will generate significant merits, because they arise from the power of intention.
Caller: I got it now, thank you Master for your explanation.
Source: Wenda20170602 18:20, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program