“Generosity is the virtue that produces peace.” ~ Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Sometimes it feels hard to be generous.

There are many ways to be and act with generosity, including being generous with our time, our words, our listening ears, our money, and for us meditators, our practice! That’s what dedicating the merit of our practice at the end is all about.

What really happens when we dedicate the merit of our practice?

According to the Buddhist nun, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, “In traditional Buddhist countries…merit…represents the positive karmic results of good intentions and actions. This belief in the power of meritorious actions is perceived as an ethical force that can be directed toward any chosen object. So people set about “making merit” and rejoicing in it; the merit is then dedicated to others and thus shared. This serves as an encouragement to perform acts of goodness such as generosity and kindness. We can also rejoice in and share the goodness we see others perform.” (1)

What does this look like practically? 

In meditation, at the end of our practice, we celebrate the goodness of sitting with our hearts and minds in meditation. We extend this goodness to all sentient beings, expressing a desire that they may be happy and free.

In our life “off the cushion” we can also dedicate the merit of all our actions! Brushing your teeth? Serving a delicious meal? Driving sanely? Giving a generous tip? DEDICATE.

Making a contribution on #GivingTuesday to your favorite meditation nonprofit? DEDICATE! Making a contribution to any of your favorite charities? DEDICATE.

“By the goodness of this deed, may all beings experience abundance, freedom, and joy.” You are invited then to direct the dedication to a particular person who could benefit from your generosity…and the rocket fuel of your dedication. 

I dedicate the merit of this blog post to you and all other sentient beings. May you be happy, healthy, and free from suffering. May Mind Oasis continue to prosper into 2023 and beyond. May it continue to offer the kind of community that provides salve to the lonely and the kind of guided meditation that will produce a powerful consistent practice you look forward to each and every day. 

What kind of acts do you dedicate regularly? We’d love to hear in the comments below.

(1) https://www.lionsroar.com/what-does-dedicating-merit-really-do/