When I lived in Singapore in 1987, the man who was the benefactor of the first book I ever published called “I Wonder Why” told me he was fine with generating bodhicitta at the beginning of meditations. However, he was reluctant at the conclusion to give his merit to sentient beings because he felt that he did not have enough to give away. He had the wrong conception that merit is gone forever once you give it away. However, dedicating our merit and virtue to the welfare of all beings actually expands it because it is a practice of generosity. This is especially so since we are dedicating to our own and others’ awakening and all the good circumstances conducive to this.

After hearing this explanation, he wanted to dedicate his merit. We dedicate not only our merit but also our body and possessions, and to overcome any reluctance, we need to remember how much better we feel about ourselves when we are generous, as many scientific studies have concluded.

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