“According to the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni and Guru Padmasambhava, “benefitting others now” refers to this very lifetime. “Benefitting in the future” refers to lives after this lifetime. Life doesn’t end when we die.There is a continuous spiral of life that goes on until we reach enlightenment. Throughout these lives, there are always ups and downs, so we dedicate our merit for now and for all future lives of change and movement. “During all the waves that beings go through, may this merit positively affect them all the time—like multiple time-release capsules! According to their needs, may this merit continually benefit all beings. Not only may it benefit them, but may it ignite their buddha-nature, their own inner goodness, so they’re not relying on something completely outside of themselves. May they develop their positive energies and abilities, which come back to all beings, including ourselves, so there is an unending abundance of enlightenment qualities and good things unfolding all the time for everyone’s benefit.” Sincerely wish this.

We dedicate this merit and every good deed we do with our body, speech, and mind, including all our good deeds of the past. This is why dedication is the final touch of our meditation. We conclude our practice session and then continue. When we dedicate the merit, whatever we did that was good is never spoiled by any future circumstance. In a way, we’re securing and sealing it up to make sure it remains all the time—not just for now, but so that life after life it touches every living being. When we dedicate, we can highlight our friends, family members, or whoever we’re specifically praying for, but we should also dedicate the merit to everyone so that it connects to every sentient being.”

Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche
The Essential Journey of Life and Death, Volume 1:
Chapter 20: Foundation Practice (pgs 286-287)

Watch: How to Perform a Simple Riwo Sang Chod Fire Puja Meditation Practice at Home

Photo of Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Rinpoche teaching on the Riwo Sang Chod fire puja meditation practice at Padma Samye Ling on May 31, 2014.