Not doing one of the non-virtuous actions is itself doing a virtuous action. If there is an opportunity to kill, to speak harsh words, to blame somebody or whatever it is and you stop yourself, then that already is a virtuous action. The benefit of taking and keeping precepts is that when you make a firm determination not to do certain actions, every moment that you are not doing that action you are consciously abandoning that action, accumulating virtue in your mind stream, and you are accumulating merit.

That is why there is a big difference between two people sitting in a room, one with the precept of not stealing, and the other person without the precept. Both people may not be stealing right now, but the person with the precept is accumulating virtue just by sitting there because he is actively not stealing, whereas the other person is not, so there is no accumulation of virtue for him.

Taking and keeping precepts is very good in this regard. When there are situations that come up where you could act negatively and you restrain yourself because you have respect and concern about the law of karma and its function and the results that you experience, and because you do not want to harm others, then that restraint itself is a virtuous action.

This merit and virtue that we accumulate are very important because these are like the water and fertilizer on the ground of our consciousness. When we plant the seeds of the Dharma they can grow because they have water and fertilizer.

Purifying and creating merit are very important. Especially if you feel like your practice is blah, a little dry, and your mind is bored or whatever, then it is very good to emphasise purification and accumulation of merit more so at those times. Doing this works with your mind to pull you out of that feeling of duuuhhh-ness. It gets you back on track.

“365 Gems of Wisdom” e-book is out now!