On merit and virtue: Merit is a result of effort, whereas virtue exists in our true nature. Many people perform acts of merit superficially, but they will not be able to gain merit and virtue unless their actions are virtuous. It is not difficult to do good deeds. What is difficult is to do good all your life and with all your heart.
功德。功是做出来的；德，德性，本性里的道德。现在的人做功很多。外相在做是功，要有道德的做出来才叫功德。做善事并不难，难的是一辈子做善事，而且做善事要用心。
– Master Jun Hong Lu, Words of Wisdom Volume 2
