Yogi: Sayadaw says that devas and ghosts are also nama-rupa. To us, they are just objects – so, how do they receive our metta and sharing of merits?

Sayadaw: Sharing of merits and sending metta is more for you, not for them because the metta mind is a wholesome mind. We try to cultivate this metta mind – therefore, the benefit is for you.

The receiver can get the benefit only if they accept the metta. Sharing is your responsibility, but whether they receive the benefit is their responsibility.

For example, anyone who is happy with the metta already receives the benefit of the metta, but others who may not like it, cannot get it. 

Sharing is alobha, a wholesome mind – it is beneficial to you. Generating a wholesome mind is more important.

If the metta is not real metta, then all benefits are gone – nobody then gets the metta.