What Is the Karmic Retribution for Profiteering through Merit Transference?

First, it is necessary to clarify whether this method of earning money constitutes a fair and legitimate transaction. If not, its nature is deceit or fraud. Then, judgment and karmic retribution should be determined based on the actions and nature of the deception. What constitutes a fair and legitimate transaction? It is when both the buyer and the seller obtain the benefits or advantages they expect. If only one party gains while the other receives nothing, it is an unfair transaction.

Next, we discuss whether this transaction is legitimate. The legitimacy of this matter is measured from multiple aspects: 1. Whether the individual is qualified to perform liberation of beings; 2. Whether the individual has the ability to liberate beings; 3. Whether it is appropriate to charge fees for liberating sentient beings from suffering, and what the standards for such fees should be.

To clarify the above questions, we must define the concept and essence of the term "liberation of beings." What is liberation of beings? It is when highly realized bodhisattvas, beings, or members of the Sangha, possessing great energy, virtue, and qualities, recite Buddhist scriptures, mantras, or sacred words to invoke the blessings of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas. These blessings help beings in the three lower realms reduce their karmic obstacles, gain certain merits, take refuge in the Three Jewels, and thereby escape the three lower realms. Therefore, liberation of beings is accomplished through the combined merit, virtue, and compassionate power of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, the Three Jewels, and the liberator themselves, lifting suffering beings out of the sea of misery and alleviating their karmic retribution.

If the liberator performs the act for the sake of money, then, first and foremost, they lack virtue, merit, and compassion. Such a person cannot invoke the protection and blessings of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the Three Jewels. All recitations performed by them bear no merit, and the karmically afflicted beings receive no benefit. The act of liberation itself cannot be accomplished by one's own power alone; it is achieved through the individual's cultivation of virtue and the majestic power of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the Three Jewels. If an individual lacks such majestic power, how can they dare to use the majestic power of the Three Jewels to earn personal profit? Who dares and is qualified to enrich themselves by profiting from the Three Jewels? Is this not making money off the Three Jewels? Who can afford to profit from the Three Jewels? Would they not be risking not only their life but everything?

Those who truly understand cause and effect, comprehend principles, and are deeply grateful to the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the Three Jewels—how could they dare or bear to profit from the Three Jewels? Bodhisattvas liberate beings out of bodhichitta, for the sake of suffering sentient beings, and to repay the kindness of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the Three Jewels—never for personal gain. Bodhisattvas teach sentient beings without ever charging fees or making money. No matter how much effort they expend in composing teachings and books, they offer them freely for sentient beings to study.

Because this is a great undertaking that cannot be accomplished by one's own power alone—all the wisdom of the bodhisattvas comes from the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the Three Jewels. Repaying this kindness is an urgent duty; how could one exploit the majestic virtue of the Three Jewels for personal profit? Those who act in this way are not true bodhisattvas. Those who profit from the Three Jewels, who earn money by selling books or other products related to the Three Jewels, are not true bodhisattvas or genuine spiritual mentors. Such ungrateful acts of selling are called "peddling the Tathagata." Peddling the Tathagata is demonic activity, resulting in demonic retribution. Profiting from the Three Jewels means making money off the Three Jewels. The more they earn this way, the poorer they become, until finally, they fall into the lower realms to suffer the karmic retribution of poverty and misery.