Vassa, the Theravada rains retreat, ended last week. Right now Theravada laypeople around the world are stepping up their alms-giving in hopes of making merit.
I believe merit is a component of all schools of Buddhism, although it is emphasized more in some schools than in others. I've always struggled a bit with it, since it seems kind of self-centered -- me doing something good to get positive karma points. Further, without intrinsic self-nature, who is it that is earning these positive karma points?
Of course, we are encouraged to dedicate the merit of our acts to others. Zen chants often include dedications of merit. Still, it makes me wonder if the "merit" thing is mostly about encouraging people to be generous. And maybe after you've developed a habit of generosity it becomes its own reward, and you no longer think about acquiring merit.
In an essay on merit, Thanissaro Bhikkhu wrote that the pursuit of merit builds a strong foundation for other practice. "[O]ne cannot wisely let go of one's sense of self until one has developed a wise sense of self," he writes. "The pursuit of merit is the Buddhist way to develop a wise sense of self."
For a Mahayana view, this is from the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom) Sutra in 8,000 Lines (Conze translation):
When he has given a gift, he does not make it into a basis or support.
And he does never expect any reward from it.
Having thus renounced, he becomes a wise renouncer of all.
The little he has renounced becomes much and immeasurable.
I suspect Theravadins would agree with that, but maybe the merit thing is about working up to being selfless. Desire for reward or acknowledgment can't be turned off as easily as flipping a switch. I still find myself looking for praise after I've done something that (I think) is commendable. This practice thing ain't easy, is it?
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