Merit and Offering Merit
Offering merit is a traditional part of Buddhist practice, and many temples have a "Transfer of Merit" board on which people can put the names of those who are in difficult situations. Many visitors are perplexed by the idea of merit, as it may seem to imply a belief in some kind of "agency" that is beyond our direct experience, and Zen Buddhism is based on practice rather than on belief.
What is "merit"? How is it transferred? How do we know that it has got to the right place? Does it make a difference? Rev. Aiden discusses these questions, and other aspects of the practice of offering merit.
This talk was given at a Basic Buddhism Evening at Turning Wheel Buddhist Temple in June 2015.
Duration: 20:41.
Dedication of Merit Board