Dedication
Dedication (Wyl. bsngo ba) — the dedication of one's merit towards the temporary and ultimate happiness and wellbeing of all sentient beings. It is the third of the three noble principles, and last part of the seven or eight branches for the accumulation of merit.
Making a proper dedication is said in the teachings to seal the practice, ensure that none of its pure power can leak or seep away, and so ensure that the merit of our practice is never wasted, but goes on growing ever greater. In The Sutra Requested by Sagaramati, the Buddha said:
- Just as a drop of water that falls into the ocean
- Will never disappear until the ocean runs dry,
- Merit totally dedicated to enlightenment
- Will never disappear until enlightenment is reached.
Further Reading
- Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang, A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher (Boston & London: Shambhala, 2004), pages 273-274.
- Patrul Rinpoche, The Words of My Perfect Teacher (Boston: Shambhala, Revised edition, 1998), pages 325-328.