Sharing of Merits

(From ' The Teachings of the Buddha', Ministry of Religious Affairs, Yangon, 1997)

Iman punnabhagam sabbasattanam dema (Three Times)

        Meaning:

        I share all of my merits with all sentient beings. I share all my merits with my parents, teachers, relatives, my guardian deva, the guardian deva of my home, the guardian deva of my village, the guardian deva of my town, the guardian deva of my country, the guardian deva of the earth, the king of death. the king of men. the king of devas. all devas and all petas.

        May they all gain the merits of my meritorious deed as much as I do and may they all be happy and free from enmity.

May I call upon the guardian deva of the earth to bear witness.

May they all hear my words and rejoice in my meritorious deed!

Sadhu _ Sadhu _ Sadhu

Well-done, Well-done, Well-done

The Final Salutation to the Triple Gems

(1) Imaya dhammanu dhammapatipattiya Buddham pujemi

(2) Imaya dhammanu dhammapatipattiya Dhammam pujemi

(3) Imaya dhammanu dhammapatipattiya Samgham pujemi

        Meaning:

        (1) I pay homage to the Buddha by the practice of charity, morality, and meditation in conformity with the Nine Supramundane Dhammas.

        (2) I pay homage to the Dhamma by the practice of charity, morality, and meditation in conformity with the Nine Supramundane Dhammas.

        (3) I pay homage to the Samgha by the practice of charity, morality, and meditation in conformity with the Nine Supramundane Dhammas.

Rejoicing In Others' Merit (Saying Sadhu)

        The Buddhists usually share their merits with others whenever they have performed meritorious deeds. "Sharing one's merit with others is called "Pattidana kusala" and "Rejoicing in others' merits" is known as "Pattanumodana kusala" in Pali.

In Tirokutta Sutta, it is stated by the Buddha that: "if the deceased relatives are reborn as petas who can rejoice in others' merit, one should perform meritorious deeds for the sake of them, and share merit with them. If the petas can say "Sadhu", they will be free from the miserable existences and they can receive celestial clothings, celestial mansions, celestial gardens and celestial utensils." In the Peta Vatthu also, it is mentioned that if a peta can rejoice in others' merits by saying "Sadhu", he will be immediately transformed into a deva.