What can be done for the dead? (Merit)

Día de Los Muertos Ofrenda Exhibition LA Philharmonic | Lily Martinez/LA Phil

Is La Virgen Guadalupe Kwan Yin? (Sleigh Bells)

QUESTION: Can meditation cultivate merit (punya) to transfer to the dead?

ANSWER: Yes, intensive sitting meditation is one way to cultivate skillful qualities like stillness, silence, calm, peace, serenity, contentment, joy (piti), bliss (sukha), and insight (vipassana) through fourfold mindfulness (satipatthana).

Can we meditate to help the dead?

Another way, particularly if dealing with monkey mind or a sugar rush is mindful walking to cultivate "being here now," holding attention on the present moment, the present action (walking), and slowing down to pay attention rather than operating on automatic pilot.

Yet another way is to engage in skillful action (feeding others, giving, letting go of things we cling to, offering help, compassion to alleviate the suffering of others, developing joy in the joy of others, equanimity or looking on with unbiased spreading of attention to make our love, compassion, and joy-in-others'-joy universal and unbounded).

And just when this is done, one utters the "mantra" or "prayer" or dedication of merit, bringing to mind those to whom we are making the offering:

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Sharing merit in Theravada

Let's offer this help to the deceased.

To “share or transfer merits,” sincerely say: “May [so and so] receive merits from this good deed that I have done.” And to cultivate boundless loving-kindness (metta) add: “May ALL beings be free from the suffering in the apāyā.”

In both cases, we are BROADCASTING our intention of goodwill and compassion in offering help. PureDhamma.net

• NOTE: One does not lose merit by giving but rather multiplies and compounds it.

The mistake Americans make about the Day of the Dead is that it's mournful, when it's really all about life and living, food and celebrating, remembering and loving. Goths may love the look, but it's uplifting.

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Mahayana

The Bodhisattva Guanyin (Kwan Yin): Goddess of Compassion

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“May the merit and virtue accrued from this work adorn the Buddha's Pure Lands. Repaying four kinds of kindness above and aiding those suffering in the paths below, may those who see and hear of this all bring forth the resolve for Bodhi (enlightenment) and, when this retribution-body is over, be reborn together in ultimate bliss.” Transference of Merit (abuddhistlibrary.com)

Vajrayana

A tulku returns to help others.

In the initial stages of our journey of self-cultivation, most of us may still be inclined to transfer merit only to ourselves, our family members, and/or our loved ones. It is superior to broaden that giving to all sentient beings to make it universal and unbounded by self-interest.

Self may be the focal point of our efforts when we start practicing Buddhism. As practice deepens and our understanding of Buddhism becomes more profound, the capacity of the heart will gradually expand. This makes us more willing to share merits with all sentient beings.

The Vedic Brahmins' Cosmic Buddha Vairocana

The practice of merit transfer involves dissolving and reducing our sense of separation and selfishness, thereby cultivating boundless love, compassion, and unbiased equanimity.

The sharing of merit is most supreme, complete, and without outflows (defilements) when our mind/heart is capable of expanding giving to include all sentient beings.

A thanksgiving prayer for the (grateful) dead

To help all sentient beings be liberated from suffering and attain happiness, we generate the Bodhi mind of attaining Buddhahood and transfer our merit to all sentient beings.

We can vow to use the limited power of our vows to resonate with the infinite, compassionate vows of the various Cosmic Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and attain supreme enlightenment along with all sentient beings. More

• Dharma Drum Mountain Global Website (Special Topics)
• Dhamma-dana from the Mexican Buddhists Crystal Quintero, Dhr. Seven, Pfc. Sandoval (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly