13/01/2026
How someone else’s merit becomes our bad kamma?
—A teaching by Ajahn Golf
Has any of us ever been like this before? Like—having the habit of doubting, interfering, or feeling troubled over the faith and acts of generosity of others.
For example:
- Someone makes a donation with money or gold, and we criticise him.
- He builds a temple, and we say, ‘why not build a hospital instead?’
- He offers alms to the monks, and we say, ‘why not give to the poor?’
- He donates to a large temple, and we question, ‘why not support a small one?’
So many things like this—have we ever done the same?
If we give rise to thoughts of doubt, annoyance, or criticism toward others’ good deeds, then we are truly being foolish—it’s not even our business.
The wealth belongs to him, and the faith belongs to his heart.
Whatever he wishes to do, wherever and however he wishes to do it, that is his freedom and his right.
If he wishes to build a temple, a Buddha statue, a hall, or a stūpa; to offer money, gold, robes, or vehicles; to build a school, a hospital, a kitchen for the poor, or to perform charitable acts; to make merit with the monks, the needy, or even with animals; to donate to a small monastery, a large one, a forest monastery, or a village temple; or to make offerings to any teacher or elder monk— all these are his own choices and rights.
The proper way for us is to incline our hearts toward rejoicing in others’ merit (anumodanā), to sincerely rejoice and take delight in their good deeds.
When we know, see, hear, or learn about such acts of goodness, merit will arise naturally in our own hearts.
Or at the very least, if we do not particularly admire that type of offering, we should remain neutral, calm, and unmoved.
Do not criticise, do not slander, do not let jealousy or envy obstruct another’s merit.
For sometimes, we ourselves have not even done as much as they have.
These are not small matters—do not be heedless or careless. Defilements (kilesa) can quietly seep into the hearts of practitioners like us. It is very dangerous—this is the great defilement of conceit and wrong view (māna-diṭṭhi). Without even realising it, one ends up creating unwholesome kamma.
The mind then generates only unwholesomeness upon the wholesome deeds of others. Let this be something for all of us Buddhists to contemplate deeply.
—Phra Ajahn Surawut Khemachitto (Ajahn Golf), Wat Pa Anuttaro, Sri Bunruang District, Nong Bua Lamphu Province, Thailand