Changing Me "Ten Merits" by Donna Hunt

10 MERITS
When I think about the “10 Merits” I imagine all sorts of treasures & fortunes. Mountains of jewels & gold coins—like finding pirates treasure in a hidden cave.
--that shows you where my “head” is at—

Founder Niwano made certain that we would read the “Ten Merits” everyday.
It is the last chapter in the The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings.
During your daily reading, didn’t you ever wonder why, at the end, its says “…this is the 1st inconceiveable merit power of this Sutra.”? I did. I wondered what happened to the other nine? I looked all over for them.

I often thought about and wondered what it all meant. So I pulled out my “Buddhism for Today” and started reading. And every morning I kept thinking over and over, what is the buddha trying to teach me? How can I apply this to my life? It must be important, Founder Niwano made us read it every day!!

UNAWAKEND BODDHISATTVA
Out of nowhere this thought came to me.
…Makes the unawakend boddhisattva, aspire to buddhahood…

The unawakened boddhisattva, was each of us…this is describing all of us…
WE are all unawakend Boddhisattva’s…by reading, hearing, reciting, writing and expounding the sutra…we are able bring out the sleeping boddhisattva in all of us.
This is THE treasure…the mountains of jewels and gold coins.
That we are all aspiring Boddhisattvas.
That’s why I was told to read out loud at home. So my family can hear the sutra, my children can hear the sutra—even if they don’t read it themselves.

…Makes the unawakend boddhisattva, aspire to buddhahood.
It all begins here.
The Sravaka is concerned with only HIS problem
The Prattekkyabuddha is concerned with learning only to help himself and his family
The Bodddhisattva devotes his life to helping others….
…Makes the unawakend boddhisattva, aspire to buddhahood.

At first I thought…oh, this says that we can change ourselves one small step at a time…
And then I thought, but must be more because they call this chapter the “Sutra of Innumerable Meanings”
So there must be a zillion meanings…and each one of us will see something different.

This is the PRACTICE….
This is OUR practice….

Everything is in black and white…so clear for us to see.
These phrases are describing US…each one of us…

MAKES A…	RAISE THE MIND OF…
MERCILESS	MERCY
HOMICIDAL	COMPASSION
JEALOUS	JOY
ATTACHED	DETACHMENT
MISERLY	DONATION
ARROGANT	KEEPING THE PRECEPTS
IRASSIBLE	PERSERVERANCE
INDOLENT	ASSIDUITY
DISTRACTED	MEDITATION
IGNORANT	WISDOM
LACKS CONCERN	SAVING OTHERS
FOR SAVING OTHERS COMMITS THE 10 EVILS	THE 10 GOOD PRECEPTS
EXISTANCE	NON EXISTANCE
RETROGRESSION	NON RETROGRESSION
DEFILED ACTS	UNDEFILEMENT
DELUSIONS	REMOVING & EXTINGUISHING DELUSIONS

If we can follow these steps, then we will be on the path of the Boddhisattva Way. And this is only the 1st inconceiveable merit power of this Sutra.
This is such an important message, don’t you think?
This is where I begin to get really excited.



2nd inconceiveable merit
from one law many meanings grow, don’t give up

3rd inconceiveable merit
from hearing the sutra only once, your problem although still there will not be your focus, you will want to help others first

4th inconceiveable merit
from hearing this sutra only once, you will be able to save others even though you cannot yet save yourself.

5th & 6th inconceiveable merit
you will be able to teach others the sutra
help them overcome their sufferings even thought you have not accomplished that for yourself.

7th, 8th, 9th & 10th inconceiveable merit
as one understands this sutra more deeply, practices and shares with others
he can help himself and save others at the same time.

This is the greatest…they even give you an answer for every imaginable excuse “why” it cant be done. YOU are the only one stopping yourself.
That’s why I was always told, just follow – and accept.

I encourage you to read this chapter, and when you think you have a firm grasp…Another deeper thought will come to you…and it will give you the ‘ump’ to want to know more!
And then tell everyone what YOU see in the Sutra.



Personal Experience

Reverend gave us a challenge last month.
He asked us to try our best to find 10 people to join… I think he was worried because he said just try to find three. He said to try your best.

The pit of my stomach got all twisted. And he asked me, what do you think Donna?
I thought about my grandma, and I thought about my mom – I knew what my answer should be.
I mustered up a confident smile and said, “yes, reverend – I will try my best”.

Then he asked me for the names of the people I was going to ask.
All I had were names of people I had already asked earlier and they all declined.

I watched as the other three people were asked the same question by Reverend Idei.
Each one answered differently. But that’s their story.

I asked three of my friends from work, we eat lunch together everyday. I asked each one individually.
They said no. I said please help me. They said no. I went back to my desk and felt sorry for myself.
I thought about what Reverend Idei said at our meeting,

YOU are not saving them, THEY are saving you.
Everything is the Buddha’s arrangement, he will guide people to you—its up to you to seize the moment.

I was kind of depressed, another co-worker was walking by and came to ask me how I was,
I said, “okay”. She said, oh you looked like you were troubled. I told her that I was sad and happy at the same time. I needed to initiate 10 people, and I was having a hard time—can you please join my church? Without hesitation, she said- “I can join, if it will help you Donna”.

I looked at her, I was in shock- I wanted to cry – I thanked her, she even gave me a check for her dues. I was numb, was this all the Buddha’s arrangement? From the three people who said “no”, to my depression—to someone asking me if I was okay—was this all in the Buddha’s plan? Because of my sad reaction, someone was able to bring out the buddha nature in themselves…and without a second thought got the biggest reward of all. She is now a step closer to the Sutra and all its wonderful teachings.

But the greatest gift or treasure I received, was proof all arrangements are made by the Buddha. What at first appears as a hardship, soon reveals itself as a blessing. Thank you Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni. Thank you very much.

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