What is a "Blessing"?

BBC

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Blessing & Sharing Merit

Bhikkhu Khantipalo (from Lay Buddhist Practices)

Anumodana is one of those words which it is very difficult to translate into English. It literally means "rejoicing with" or "rejoicing after" but implies "asking beings to rejoice in the good karma that one has made and so benefit themselves." It is often translated "blessing" but this gives the wrong picture, as one is inviting other beings to rejoice at what one has done; one is not invoking some blessing of another power upon them.

The person who is inviting others to rejoice does not actually "share those merits," although this expression is often seen. How can merits (a poor translation of puñña, which means all kinds of actions that cleanse and purify the mind of the doer) be shared? Because puñña is good karma, one should remember "I am the owner of my karma, heir to my karma..." so how can it be "shared" with others?

Good karma or merit (puñña) is not like a cake that can be cut into pieces and handed out. Instead, what one does is not "sharing" but dedicating one's puñña to other beings (either to particular beings who are suffering, such as parents, relatives, friends, and so on or generally to all beings, "infinite, immeasurable"). And the beings to whom one dedicates karma may either be living or reborn in other states. In making the dedication to them, one asks them to rejoice. "By rejoicing in this cause, this gift of puñña given by me..." When they do so they also make good karma, which is the direct cause of their happiness ("a happy life free from hate...and may their good wishes succeed").

The "path secure" mentioned in the verses below is the attainment of stream-entry when a person has seen nirvana for the first time, known the Truth of Dharma for oneself and is no longer liable to fall into low, subhuman states of birth.

These verses are part of a longer Pali composition by King Mahamongkut (Rama IV) of Thailand, maybe written while he was still a prince and bhikkhu holding the position of Abbot of Wat Bovoranives in Bangkok.

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May the puñña made by me,
now or at some other time,
be shared among all beings here —
infinite, immeasurable,
By rejoicing in this cause,
this gift of puñña given by me,
may beings all forever live
a happy life and free from hate,
and may they find the path secure
and their good wishes all succeed!

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Having finished this recitation one should stay quiet with a heart full of loving-kindness for all beings just for a short while.