The last of the five strengths is the strength of dedication. As a reminder, the seventeenth lojong slogan says, “Practice the five strengths, the condensed heart instructions.” You can read about determination, familiarization, reproach, and seed of virtue in my previous posts.

Dedication of merit is actually one of my favorite Buddhist things. It’s the idea that we dedicate our actions and declare our intentions for their wider good when we finish them. So simple, right?

Earlier this year, my Buddhist mentor Ethan Nichtern invited us to meet together on Sundays to write get out the vote letters. We would meditate, chat, and write letters together over the course of the hour. When we finished, we would hold our hands over our stack of envelopes and offer a dedication of merit. It is such a small ritual, but it really creates a powerful sense of togetherness.

Dedication of merit also helps us keep our meditation practice feeling sacred. My first teachers always instructed us to end with a bow, offering our centered presence to the world as a gift. So we begin with setting an intention, and we end with sealing it, and sending it out.

This fifth heart strength is also called aspiration, which, of course, means the same thing. It serves as a reminder that we do this work because we aspire to help others. We aspire to make the world a saner and more peaceful place.

Aspiration also reminds us to recommit ourselves, over and over again. We renew these vows of compassionate service every chance we get.

Offering a dedication can be as simple as “May all beings awaken.” Or, “May this peace belong also to others.” Options are limitless, really.

How can you renew your vow of service this week?

Where could you bring in a dedication of merit to honor and send forth your own good work?