In Buddhism, it refers to the practice of giving the merits and good deeds accumulated by one’s own practice to the sentient beings or to a specific object, in order to benefit the sentient beings as well as to enable one to enter the Buddha’s path.
The meaning of Reverence includes:
- Gratitude and Sharing: Sharing one’s own blessings and merits with others, showing gratitude and compassion.
- Growing merit: Guru-returning can make one’s accumulated merit more extensive and benefit others.
- Helping others and becoming a Buddha: Guru-returning can help all sentient beings to be free from suffering and achieve liberation as soon as possible; at the same time, it can also bring one’s self closer to the path to Buddhahood.
- Practicing Compassion: Guru-rectification is an expression of compassion, sharing one’s own merits and virtues with all sentient beings
- Cultivate Gratitude: Through the practice of Guru-returning, one can cultivate gratitude for others and oneself, and increase one’s blessings.
