Speaking of Merit is a collection of sixteen formal Buddhist expressions of appreciation for alms received -- some based on scriptural stories, others more contemporary in their origin. The book will be a handy reference for monks and MC's on the receiving end of alms throughout the English-speaking Buddhist world, particularly Buddhist charitable organizations who want to speak of merit.

Instead of merely saying 'we couldn't have done it without you', how can you touch a person with your words when thanking them for a gift? How can you move them, so they are inspired to give such gifts in the future? It is a problem faced by all charities reliant on philanthropy -- not only Buddhist temple communities where every meal is so graciously received. The Buddhist inspirational and appreciatory homilies expressed to givers of alms belong to a scriptural tradition that goes back more than 2,600 years. This book shares must-read information that is vital for those who are looking to express gratitude upon receiving alms.
Speaking of Merit... (Sammodaniya Katha), Phra Nicholas Thanissaro, BookBaby, Paperback, 100 pp, $9.99

Phra Nicholas Thanissaro is a Buddhist monk of 24 years standing. With thirty years of meditation experience, he is a UK Complementary Medical Association qualified teacher of meditation. Affiliated with the Dhammakaya Foundation, he is also qualified as a schoolteacher and MBTI practitioner. As a scholar-practitioner, during his time as Associate Fellow at the University of Warwick, he published widely in peer-reviewed journals on the formation of Buddhist identity in teenagers and continues to research the appeal of meditation in the West. He currently lectures in 'Living Buddhism' and 'Religious Individualization' at Claremont School of Theology, California and Willamette University, Oregon. His latest book, exploring Buddhist diversity through Psychological Type, is entitled The Intuitive Buddhist.