How do we measure the effect of doing good deeds and planting "good causes"?

如何去衡量做好事种“善因”的效果大小？

　There are different levels of good deeds, and the main principles of distinction can be divided into approximately two categories.

　　A. It is measured by the "degree of giving".

　　For example, if a rich person gives a hundred dollars, and a poor person gives a hundred dollars, the rich person's hundred dollars is like nine cows for a penny, while the poor person's hundred dollars may be a meal for several days. Therefore, there is a great difference in the degree of giving, for the poor person will do much more good deeds with the same amount of $100, and the effect of the blessings sown will be much greater. So often, a poor person giving tens of dollars will be better than a rich person giving thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.

　　For example, if A and B are both living in the same circumstances and give the same amount of money for a good deed, A often remembers the good deed in his mind, hoping for a quick reward, and is often complacent about the merits of the deed. A B, on the other hand, has no desire to take credit for his good deeds, nor does he have any desire for quick reward, but is modest and cautious, and only cares about the ploughing, not the harvest. Therefore, there is a great difference in the level of dedication between A and B. A B is bound to receive far more blessings than A A.

　　As the sutra says, "Where there is no merit, there is great merit." This means that the merit and virtue that is done without a "meritorious mind" is great merit and virtue. To be "out of mind" is to be "out of mind", to be compassionate and to give charity. If a person is more cultivated and virtuous, the "heart of compassion" is very far-reaching. The masters of any decent religion have a common ambition when they set up their religions, which is "to save all sentient beings from suffering." This great compassion has resulted in unbelievable and immeasurable merit. Nowadays, in all Buddhist and Taoist pujas, when they "return", the merits of the pujas are returned to all sentient beings, praying for world peace, good weather and rain, and for all sentient beings to live and work in peace and happiness. This is also a manifestation of great compassion, which in itself is of immense merit.

　　Those who study Buddhism, those who practise virtue, and those who aspire to improve their lot should all develop great compassion, not only for themselves but also for the general public, and plough hard with their heads in the ground, so that with the accumulation of time, they will naturally reap a fruitful harvest.

　　B. The degree of benefit is the measure.

　　For example, if the good deed done by A A benefits one person, while the good deed done by B benefits the general public, of course B is better than A.

　　Another example is that of a man who is a gambling addict and has a high level of debt. A A helps him pay off his debts with money and saves C from being sentenced to death. A B, on the other hand, uses words of wisdom to persuade C to change his ways and be happy for the rest of his life. Both A and B benefited one person and both had good deeds. But A A benefited him temporarily, while B benefited him for life, and the latter was far better than the former. This shows that one does not necessarily need money to do good deeds.

　　Both of these measures are based primarily on the "heart". Therefore, it is not necessarily the rich who have the opportunity to do good deeds, but the poor who have the "heart" to do so will definitely have better results than the rich. Therefore, "giving one's heart" is much more precious than "giving one's money". And those who can truly give "love" to all beings are the ones who are protected by heaven! As the saying goes, "Heaven has no relatives, but virtue is the only complement", and "Heaven has no relatives, but good people". This is the fairest thing in heaven! 

　　做善事有大小之分，主要的区别原则大约可分两种：
　　A、以“出心的程度”来衡量。
　　比如说，富者施舍出一百元，贫穷者亦施舍出一百元，富者所施舍一百元犹如九牛去一毛，而贫穷者所施舍的一百元则可能是数日之餐。因此，出心的程度就大有区别，同是一百元数目，贫者所做的善事就大得多，所种的福德效果也大得多。所以，往往贫人施舍数十元，会胜过富者施舍数千元或数万元。
　　又比如说，甲乙两人同是一样生活环境，施舍出同一个数目的钱财来做善事，而阿甲做了善事之后，心中常常记住，冀图速速获报答，并常有居功之心，沾沾自喜。而阿乙做了善事之后，无居功之心，亦无冀图速获福报，谦虚谨慎，只顾耕耘，不问收成。因此，甲乙两人的出心程度就大有区别，阿乙所得的福果必然远胜阿甲。
　　佛经有云：“无功德处，是大功德。”意思是说，没有“功德之心”自居，所做的功德才是大功德。“出心”即是“发心”，是发慈悲之心，发布施之心。如果是较有修持和德行的人，发出的“慈悲之心”是非常深远的。任何正派宗教的教主，在当初设教的时候都有一个共同的宏愿，就是“普渡一切众生，拯救一切众生出苦海。”这种伟大的慈悲心，成就了不可思议，无可衡量的大功德。现在佛教和道教的一切法事，在“回向”的时候，都是将法事的功德回向给一切众生，祈世界和平，风调雨顺，众生安居乐业。这也是发大慈悲心的表现，本身就具无量的功德。
　　学佛学道的人，修行修德的人，立志种福改善命运的人都应该发大慈悲心，不但为自己，更要为大众，埋头辛勤地耕耘，日积月累，自然会收成到丰硕之果。
　　B、以“受益的程度”来衡量。
　　比如说，阿甲所做的善事是一个人受益，而阿乙所做的善事是使大众受益，当然阿乙胜阿甲。
　　又比如说，有阿丙不务正业，嗜赌邪淫，债台高筑。阿甲用金钱帮助他还清债务，救起阿丙免受官刑之苦。而阿乙则用言语晓以大义，劝回阿丙改邪归正，使他终生幸福。甲乙两人同使一人受益，都有善德。但阿甲是使他暂时受益，而阿乙是使他终生受益，则后者又远胜于前者。亦可见不一定要用金钱才能做得善事。
　　以上两种衡量方式都是首重于“发心”。因此不一定有钱的人才有机会做善事，贫者只要能“发心”去做，效果一定比富者好。因此“出心’比“出钱”要珍贵得多。而上天所庇辅的，也就是能够真正施舍出“爱心”给众生的人！所谓“皇天无亲，唯德是辅”，“天道无亲，唯与善人”。这正是上天最公平的之处！ 

What are the acts of abstaining from killing and releasing

 戒杀与放生的行为包括哪些

 1. Do not kill a living being with your own hands.

　　2. Do not abet others to kill.

　　3. Do not help others to kill.

　　4. Abstain from eating meat.

　　5. Do not engage in trades related to killing.

　　6、Whenever there is worship, regardless of what is being worshipped, use vegetarian dishes, flowers and fruit, not animal gifts.

　　7. If you see someone killing a human being, you should discourage them or buy the animal to be slaughtered with money and release it. If this does not work, or if the person does not sell the animal, then you should have compassion for the slaughtered animal, and even better if you can recite the Buddha's name or mantra for it.

　　8. Do not abuse the animal.

　　9、Other actions that are contrary to killing.

　　10. Abstain from killing and releasing animals yourself, and advise others to do the same. 

   1、不亲手杀生。

　　2、不教唆别人杀生。

　　3、不帮助别人杀生。

　　4、戒除肉食。

　　5、不从事与杀生有关的行业。

　　6、凡有祭拜，不管拜的是什么，一律用素菜、鲜花、水果，不用牲礼。

　　7、见人杀生，应加劝阻，或用钱将临宰之动物买而放之。若劝阻无效，或他不卖，则应对被杀之动物起同情心，若能为它念佛号或往生咒更好。

　　8、不虐待动物。

　　9、其他与杀生行为相反之行为。

　　10、自己戒杀放生，也劝别人戒杀放生。 

(This article is an original article by Zhuge Changqing, and the pictures are selected from the Internet. Welcome to forward it, and please indicate the source for forwarding)

Introduction to Zhuge Changqing: Zhuge Changqing, the inheritor and promoter of traditional Chinese culture, is willing to "learn from sages, promote virtue, revitalize China and benefit the world" together with people with the same ideals in the world.

(Zhuge Changqing: zhuge8031@163.com ）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

Zhuge Changqing's Chinese Dream

Learn from sages and carry forward virtue

Revitalizing China for the benefit of the world

 （本文是诸葛长青原创文章，图片选自网络。欢迎转发，转发引用请注明出处）

诸葛长青简介：诸葛长青，中国国学传统文化传承弘扬者，愿与天下志同道合者一起“学习圣贤、弘扬善德、振兴中华、造福世界”。

（诸葛长青：zhuge8031@163.com）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

  诸葛长青中国梦  

学习圣贤 弘扬善德

振兴中华 造福世界

Selected Articles in Previous Periods

Click the article title to view

往期精选文章

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1The wisdom of traditional Chinese culture changes the destiny: filial piety to parents+five in one+self-improvement

1 国学智慧改命运：孝敬父母+五合一+自强不息

2Zhuge Changqing's Three Golden Keys to Changing Destiny

2诸葛长青改命运三把金钥匙诸葛长青施食仪轨 （十五步简洁版）

3Zhuge Changqing's Greeting Ritual (15 Steps Concise Version)

3 诸葛长青施食仪轨 （十五步简洁版）

4How to repent: the ritual of repentance and the method of repentance (full version)

4   如何忏悔：忏悔仪轨忏悔方法（完整版）

5How to read the Dizang Sutra: Methods for reciting Dizang Sutra (complete version)

5 如何念地藏经：念地藏经仪轨方法（完整版）

6How to release? The ritual of releasing life

6怎样放生？放生仪轨

7Zhuge Changqing's Repentance Culture: A Case Study of Repentance Methods for Changing Destiny

7诸葛长青忏悔文化：改变命运忏悔方法案例

8Free Life Culture: Free Life Culture in Ancient China

8放生文化：中国古代的放生文化

9Shocking photo of feeding: Buddha, Bodhisattva and Dharma Protector come to the scene

9施食震撼照片：佛菩萨护法神亲临现场

10Feeding Rite Return: the return is changed to simple return

10施食仪轨回向：回向修改为简洁回向