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I understand your concerns about the cost of sending a thank you note after a donation. Whenever I can, I tell the charities not to bother, because it seems a waste of money where I am concerned. But if somebody really needs to be recognized as a donor then that person may be lonely or disappointed in the world in general or simply grumpy. Receiving a nice letter might cheer them up. So maybe the money isn't wasted after all.

Several years ago I came upon a text by Pema Chödrön about "Good at the beginning, good in the middle, and good at the end". There she quoted blessings or aspirations that have kept me company ever since:

Beginning:

May whatever I do today

be of benefit to all beings.

End:

May all beings share in the blessings

springing from the good I have done.

(For some strange reason I lost the text and can't find the aspiration for the middle. It must be somewhere on my computer.)

I would say the ideas expressed in the aspirations are the one intention of this slogan. I think it is not an accident that I lost the middle. It is easy to be alert in the morning and in the evening, but it is trickier to stay alert during the day. So I do try to remember to dedicate the merit of whatever I do even during my activities but most often I have to rely on my evening practice.

I do find it a very helpful practice. It has changed me in a subtle way.

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