Date: 06/28/2025 06/29/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
The Merit-Intent Woman Offers to a Stupa and Ascends to Heaven
When the Buddha was staying in the Bamboo Grove Monastery in Rājagṛha, the devout King Bimbisāra, out of deep reverence for the Buddha, would lead his ministers to visit and pay respects to the Buddha three times daily—morning, noon, and evening—without fail. However, as he aged, his strength declined, and he was no longer able to visit as before. On the advice of his ministers, the king invited relics—some of the Buddha’s hair and nails—back to the palace and had a stupa and temple constructed for veneration. He hung banners and canopies, and offered incense, flowers, lamps, and light three times a day.
Later, Prince Ajātaśatru, incited by Devadatta, plotted to kill his father and usurp the throne. He then issued a decree forbidding anyone from worshiping at the stupa; violators would be punished by law.
At the time, there was a palace attendant named Merit-Intent (Gōngdéyì). On the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, the day of the monastic Pravarana (the joyful day of the Buddha and the Sangha), she noticed that the stupa constructed by King Bimbisāra had become covered in cobwebs and dust. She thought, “This stupa was built by the former king in honor of the Buddha, but now it is neglected and filthy. No one tends to it.” She resolved that even if punished, she would clean and sweep the stupa.
Merit-Intent immediately went to action. She cleaned and swept the surroundings of the stupa, making it shine once again, and lit lamps in offering, causing the stupa to radiate with light.
Just then, King Ajātaśatru happened to be standing in the upper pavilion of the palace and saw from afar that the stupa was again lit. Enraged, he sent people to investigate. When they returned, they reported, “It was the palace maid Merit-Intent who lit the lamps in offering to the Buddha at the stupa.” Ajātaśatru immediately summoned her to question her.
She replied, “This stupa was built by the former king to venerate the Buddha. Today is the 15th day of the 7th month—the day of the Buddha’s joy—so I wished to clean the stupa and light lamps in offering.”
The king asked, “Are you not aware of the decree I issued?”
She answered, “I have not forgotten. But compared to the late king, Your Majesty’s governance and virtue are far inferior.”
Hearing this, Ajātaśatru was even more furious and immediately ordered her execution by sword.
Though Merit-Intent was slain, due to her single thought of pure devotion, she was reborn in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. Her body radiated light for a distance of one yojana (about 7 miles). Śakra, the Lord of Heaven, along with many celestial beings, saw this miraculous light and came to investigate. They asked the newly reborn deva what good deed she had performed to attain such a heavenly rebirth with such brilliant radiance.
She replied in verse:
“The Tathāgata appears in the world,
Like sun and moon radiating light,
Illuminating all darkness,
And bringing clarity to all.
Seeing him, joy arises,
And defilements are naturally cleansed.
Oh, the Supreme Honored One!
The true field of blessings for all beings.
With faithful heart I cultivated merit—
Unhesitatingly gave my life.
Though slain, I passed away,
And was reborn in heaven above.”
Adorned in heavenly crowns and jeweled ornaments, the deva, together with many other heavenly beings bearing incense and flowers, descended to the Buddha’s presence to pay homage and make offerings.
The Buddha then expounded the Four Noble Truths for them. Merit-Intent, now a deva, opened her heart and gained insight, realizing the fruit of Srotāpanna (stream-entry).
Moved, she exclaimed: “Since beginningless time I have wandered in saṃsāra. The illusory body I have clung to has left behind bones higher than Mount Sumeru, and the tears I’ve shed from suffering surpass all the waters of the oceans. Looking back, it was all wasted time and a squandered life. Today I am fortunate to encounter the Dharma, and to be freed from birth and death, attaining ultimate liberation.”
After speaking, she respectfully circumambulated the Buddha three times and returned to her heavenly abode.
The next morning, the monks asked the Buddha, “World-Honored One, last night we saw a radiant light brighter than usual—who came to receive your teaching?”
The Buddha explained the cause of Merit-Intent’s rebirth in heaven.
Upon hearing this, the monks’ faith was greatly strengthened. Some attained the fruits of Srotāpanna, Sakadāgāmi, Anāgāmi, and Arhatship, while others gave rise to the aspiration for unsurpassed Bodhi (enlightenment).
