How does the dedication of merit work, according to the texts?

[Gabriel_L]

Maybe it is worth considering what is found in Milinda Pañña of Pali Canon and Nāgasena Bhikṣu Sūtra of the Chinese Canon.

This topic from a few years back looked at that.

Sharing of Merit: Offerings To the Dead

Hello everyone, I would like to share with you all some interesting answers presented by the legendary Ven. Nagasena to the sceptical King Menander I Soter on the topic of dedication of merits to the dead: ‘Venerable Nāgasena, these givers when they bestow their offerings, devote them specifically to former (relatives) now departed, saying: “May this gift benefit such and such.” Now do they (the dead) derive any benefit therefrom?’ ‘Some do, O king, and some do not.’ ‘Which then are the…