Accumulating Merit and Karma (094)

The

point of this series of blogs is to help make the

"intangible" tangible, to become familiar with some of

the more subtle Buddhist concepts. While intellectual

distinctions of this kind may appear on the surface to

be overly conceptual, these particular concepts

translate rather quickly to the sphere of action, where

mistakes on our part have real consequences. As an

example, it can be important to understand the

difference between accumulating good karma and

accumulating merit. They are quite different.

Karma of any kind always has to do with Samsara

(this world of cyclic existence) and never with

enlightenment, while merit pertains to our eventual

liberation from Samsara -- enlightenment. It is said

that the accumulation of karma is certain, like a

shadow following an object, and always leads to a

higher or lower rebirth within cyclic existence. Our

karma, even the best karma, will never liberate us, but

only determines the kind of our next rebirth. Karma is

inextricably bound to this world of cyclic existence.