Q3: Would it matter if I don’t transfer merits after chanting?

There are indeed people who incessantly attempt to accumulate karmic blessings and spiritual provisions because they deem merit to be a kind of savings. However, when one does this, he or she is putting too much emphasis on the "self" and grasping it too tightly, which is the opposite of attaining liberation. The purpose of transferring merit is to remind ourselves to refrain from being stingy. We should joyously share everything we own with others, whether tangible or intangible. We should practice generosity and perform our daily chanting practice with an attitude of non-self. If we are somehow reluctant when transferring our merit to others, it would diminish the power of the act by a great degree, or to the point where it is completely ineffective.

Some people are afraid that they will be obstructed by external forces if they forget to transfer merit after chanting sutras. DDM Propagation Development Project Convener Ven. Guo Kae remarked, "This is in fact a concept that is seemingly true but in actuality false. We often use the term "transfer merit," but why is merit generated from chanting sutras and doing good deeds in the first place? Who or what is able to truly allow the sentient beings to attain liberation?" The Venerable went on to explain that to chant is to listen to the Buddha's teaching. Furthermore, upon hearing the Dharma, one's heart opens up to understanding and one is thus willing to practice the Dharma and benefit all beings in life. This is where the merit lies.

Having attachments is the reason why we could not attain liberation. We often think that we are able to accumulate karmic blessings and virtues, as well as ward off disasters and avoid misfortunes from the mere act of sutra-chanting or making significant charitable contributions. In fact, the heart of self-cultivation lies in cultivating and training our heart, rather than running away or creating opposition whenever we encounter various difficulties. We should be willing to face the issues at hand, accept them, deal with them, and lastly, let go of them. This is the true meaning of eliminating disasters from our lives.


Extended reading:

Transfer of Merit –The Practice of Generating a Great Mind

The Transfer of Merit: the Giving of Dharma that could be Practiced at any Time

What Buddhist Scriptures Reveal about the Evolution of Merit Transfer

Dedicating the merit for attainment of nirvana is superior to praying for karmic blessing in the human and heavenly realms

To practice the Buddhist teaching is to transfer merit in its true sense

Compassionately delivering sentient beings, dedicating the merit for supreme Bodhi

Dedication verses commonly seen in the Chinese Buddhist tradition

Tibetan Buddhism: The most sublime chapter on the Practices and Vows of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra

Q1: How is merit transfer different from the blessings we give to others in our everyday life?

Q2: Must we first accumulate merit before we can transfer it to others?

Q3: Would it matter if I don't transfer merits after chanting?

Q4: When we transfer the merit generated from self-cultivation to our family, friends, and deceased loved ones, can they really receive it?

Q5: Should we still transfer merit to specific people after we have already transferred it to all sentient beings in the Dharma realm?

Q6: The terms "making vows" and "transfer of merit" are often used alongside each other in Mahayana Buddhist scriptures. What are the differences between them?

Q7: Are there corresponding dedication verses for different Dharma methods? Can these dedication verses be used interchangeably?



Resource: Humanity Magazine Issue #413
Translation: Ariel Shen 
Editing: Keith Brown, Freya Chang