THE BUDDHIST CONCEPT OF MERIT AND VIRTUE

QUESTION:

You often speak of compassion and meritorious deeds, but for ordinary sentient beings it is impossible to be compassionate in the ultimate sense that is expounded by Buddhist teachings. For instance, when the Emperor of China asked Bodhidharma how much merit he would receive for all the temples he had built, Bodhidharma said none, because he was doing it with attachment. Unless we are enlightened, it is impossible to act and be compassionate without attachment. It is disheartening, and if what Bodhidharma said is true, then it implies that there really is no such thing as merit. If that is the case, what is the point of transferring merit at the end of retreats?

SHIH-FU:

In the story of the Emperor and Bodhidharma, it is important to understand the meaning behind Bodhidharma's words, which was to break up the Emperor's attachment. If people perform actions with merit in mind, then their egocentrism will grow and become stronger. For this reason, Ch'an masters often make such comments.