The 5th Step: Having Done Good Deeds
in One's Past
Quality fruits carry quality seeds. Wherever they are planted, that same quality will mature into delicious fruit trees without the need for extra specific care. Likewise, the "seed of goodness" or merit that one has accrued in one's past lives consists naturally of a clear mind, wisdom, radiant health and appearance, and will constantly have pleasant opportunities presented to him to do more meritorious deeds right from the moment of his birth.
What is "Merit"?
Merit is defined as goodness or happiness. It is a state of mind that is clean, and is exempt of sadness and confusion, leading the mind to a clearer and sharper state.
Even though merit cannot be seen, it is something that can be sensed; one can feel after he performs a meritorious deed that his mind is refreshed and full. The quality of merit can improve and develop one's state of mind; it becomes stable, pure, bright, boundless, unworried, full, and light. The mind graced with merit is responsible and reliable to perform work or any task of daily life. Beyond that, the merit collected in one's mind will continue to yield positive results in one's life.
Periods of Merit
Merit can be classified into two categories as follows.
1) Merit in distant past. This means the accrued merits we had performed from our past lives, up to the time we were born, bear the optimistic opportunities as aforementioned. As long as we are not careless and continue making merit, we will rapidly meet success and progress in life. On the contrary, if we are heedless in doing good deeds, our life can be compared to a tree with the peaks of its branches broken that can no longer grow taller.
2) Merit in recent past. This refers to all of the good deeds or merits which have been done from the time we were born up to today. Illustrative examples include paying attention to our studies, displaying perseverance, associating with the wise, and having a clear and controlled mind since childhood. These good acts thus influence our thinking, speech, capacity to become more efficient, advanced by comparison to others of the same age, and development in life and the future.
All the good deeds we have done bear the merits of good fruits for our lives. To easily correct these principles, the Lord Buddha concluded that there are three kinds of acts considered to be meritorious. These are: alms offering, observing the precepts, and practicing meditation. In brief, these are the ways by which merit can be performed, obtained, and accrued.
