Pariṇāmanā

pariṇāmanā (T. yongs su bsngo ba ཡོངས་སུ་བསྔོ་བ་ / bsngo ba བསྔོ་བ་; C. huixiang; J. ekō; K. hoehyang 廻向). Translated as: “dedication,” "turning over," etc. The practice of mentally or ritually directing the merit (puṇya) produced from virtuous (kuśula) deeds (karma) to a particular aim.

In the Mahayana tradition, virtuous activity is commonly dedicated towards the benefit of all sentient beings. Virtuous activity can also be dedicated towards are particular individual or individuals, particularly for individuals who are suffering or in need of assistance.

In particular, it is common to conclude a spiritual practice by dedicating the merit of the practice towards to the enlightenment of all sentient beings.

The Dharmachakra Translation Committee states:

Although the Sanskrit term pariṇāmanāis often translated as “dedication” (as in the practice of dedicating merit), the term has the basic meaning of “transforming,” “developing,” “making ripen.” This conception, then, reflects the Buddhist understanding that the act of dedication involves mentally or ritually directing the merit (puṇya) produced from virtuous activity toward a specific goal, be it worldly or transworldly.

Rupert Gethin states:

The practice of the transference of merit—the giving of one’s merit—is an ancient and extremely widespread and common Buddhist practice. What it indicates is that spiritual practice is to be entered into in a generous spirit, not for the sake of acquiring merit exclusively for oneself but for the benefit of others too. Indeed, only acts undertaken in this spirit are truly meritorious in the first place. [...] Thus for many Buddhists it is customary at the end of Buddhist devotions and rituals to offer the merit generated during the ceremony for the benefit of other beings—either specific beings such as dead relatives, or all sentient beings—and in so doing to invite all present (whether they have directly participated in the ceremony or not, whether they have physical presence or are unseen ghosts or gods) also to rejoice in the merit of the ceremony.

Pariṇāmanā is identified as:

• one of the seven branches of practice (saptāṇga pūja)
• one of the three heaps (triskandhaka)

Benefits of dedicating merit

The Library of Wisdom and Compassion (Vol 2) sates:

The primary purpose of dedicating the merit is to make the results of our virtue inexhaustible, lasting until all sentient beings attain full awakening. While the merit can still bring good results before awakening, it will not be exhausted until awakening is attained. By connecting even small virtue to the wider vision of the awakening of all sentient beings, you bring an extraordinary dimension to this small action. It immerses your mind in bodhicitta, increases your generosity, and expands your rejoicing at virtue.

Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang states:

At the end [of a practice session], dedicate the merit of the positive action to ensure that it continually grows ever greater. In the Sutra Requested by Sagaramati we read:

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.

Just as a single drop of water added to the ocean will not be consumed until the end of a great kalpa, positive actions dedicated to the great ocean of omniscience will not be destroyed or degenerate until we reach ultimate enlightenment. While they may result temporarily in our being reborn with all the breeding and virtues of the most supreme brahmin, the most supreme kshatriya, or the most supreme householder, they can never be exhausted and will ultimately result in our attaining perfect buddhahood.

Sealing a dedication

It is recommended to "seal" a dedication by making the dedication with the understanding of the emptiness (sunyata) of all phenomena; in this way the dedication is made free of the three spheres of subject, object, and action.

The Library of Wisdom and Compassion (Vol 2) sates:

In addition, seal the dedication by reflecting that you as the agent, the merit you are dedicating, the awakening you are dedicating to attain, and the sentient beings you wish to benefit are all empty of existing from their own side, but exist dependently. As Nāgārjuna says in Praise to the Supramundane (Lokātītastava):

There exists no agent, no subject too;

no merit [exists], they arise through dependence.

“Though dependently arisen, they are unborn,”

so you have proclaimed, O Master of Words.34

While none of the elements of a dedication — the person, merit, and so forth — exist inherently, they exist nominally by being merely designated by name and concept. Their emptiness of inherent existence and their conventional existence are not contradictory. Reflecting in this way increases our understanding of the compatibility of emptiness and dependent arising and prevents us from becoming arrogant.

Brief dedication prayer

Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang states:

Recite the two verses below, thinking, “In the same way that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas made a completely pure dedication free from the three concepts, I too will dedicate the merit.”

Emulating the hero Manjushri,

Samantabhadra, and all those with knowledge,

I too make a perfect dedication

Of all acts that are positive.

I totally dedicate all merit in the same way as the

Buddhas of the past, present, and future.

This will do as an authentic pure dedication free from the three concepts.

Sources

• Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University 
• Dalai Lama; Thubten Chodron (2018), The Foundation of Buddhist Practice, The Library of Wisdom and Compassion, Volume 2, Wisdom Publications 
• Gethin, Rupert (1998), Foundations of Buddhism, Oxford University Press 
• Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang (2011), A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher, translated by Padmakara Translation Group, Shambhala 

External links

• Dedication Series on Lotsawa House, Lotsawa House
• The Dedication “Fulfilling All Aspirations”, 84000 Collection
• The Dedication “Protecting All Beings”, 84000 Collection