Diamond Sutra – Is there merit? Is there no merit?
In chapter 8 of this Sutra, the Buddha said blessings of sharing this Sutra far surpass that of any worldly offerings. Is it really so? Can we acquire this great merit or huge blessings for sharing the wisdom of this Sutra? The Buddha continues in this chapter: if the real merit can be described, it is not the real merit. Based on the discussion we have so far, do you understand why? Is there merit? Is there no merit?
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法界通化分第十九
UNDERSTANDING AND TRANSFORMING THE DHARMA REALM, NINETEEN
须菩提！于意云何？若有人满三千大千世界七宝以用布施，是人以是因缘，得福多不？
“Subhuti, what do you think? If someone filled the universe with the seven treasures and gave all away in his practice of dana, would this (good) cause enable the giver to gain a great merit?”
如是，世尊！此人以是因缘，得福甚多。
“Yes, World Honoured One, because of this (good) cause the giver would gain a great merit.”
须菩提，若福德有实，如来不说得福德多；以福德无故，如来说得福德多。
“’Subhuti, if the merit was real, the Tathagata would not say it was great. He says so because there is no merit.”
Is not even the concept of merit due to good actions flawed in that it associates reward/ benefit with good actions? Philosophically, are not true meritorious deeds ones that are done from a sense of loving kindness/ compassion with no expectation of benefit, reward, recognition, or even the expectation that the action itself will be judged as being meritorious?
Good observation. Indeed, pure virtuous actions are unconditional and are without agenda or expectation, just like the Daoist description of pure virtue is like water. Yet, just because pure virtue are unconditional, can we conclude that virtue or merit does not exist as a result of loving kindness?
Surely virtue and merit must exist as a result of loving kindness, but if one attaches one’s self to it in any way or form.. is the action still one of true virtue and merit?
As you say, is this not the same as with the Dao? We can discuss it and there is great value in that, but at the same time we must acknowledge that the true experience of Dao is not that which is described in words.
Is this not the same as practicing Kung Fu? One can not learn Kung Fu from reading about it in books or watching movies. Nor can one completely understand it by watching somebody else, no matter how good they are. One must experience it. Perhaps in this way it is like the Dao. Also one can not own or completely control the experience of Kung Fu. It happens in it’s own time and space after much investment of time and effort on our part to cultivate it. Perhaps in this way it is like loving kindness leading to actions of merit and virtue. These actions are not ours, they do not originate completely from us, but they flow through us like wind flowing through a flute. The wind/air is not ours to own… we only instruments helping shape it into music.
”like wind flowing through a flute… and we are only instruments that help shape it into music” – this is such beautiful analogy… If only we can have more of us who allow this loving wind to blow at more time, what will the world become? The understanding is close, the direction is right.