In this videoconference talk from 24 Sep, 2021, Ajahn Anan talks about how making merit and building goodness leads to good results, whether through Dana, Sila or Bhavana. Whether we are coming from darkness or from brightness, in this life may we build our parami and go to brightness.

"So we people need everything in all ways. We need a good place to live. We need a strong body. We need a beautiful complexion. We want happiness. We want eyes that are bright. But not everyone gets all this. Why is this? Because of kamma, the actions we have done in the past are different. But people don't know or understand whether this matter is related to kamma or not. Isn't it only our efforts that matter? It can be both. One, our old kamma that we have created. We might have used to give food, give water. We used to donate these things. These are material and physical things, but we have turned them into a form of energy that is in our heart. We have given clothes and garments to others, and this also makes goodness grow in our heart. It makes our complexion better in whatever life we are born in."