Download Short Merit Presentation

Merit (puṇya/puñña) is an important concept
within Buddhist thought. It is what is
accumulated through good and wholesome
deeds. The production of merit is important
as it can have positive effects on the lives of
individuals, generate desirable rebirths and
also allow one to access higher levels of
spiritual attainment.
• Merit is essentially good karma.
• Karma or kamma can be translated as ‘action’.
• In brahmanical society it was initially understood in terms
of ritual behaviour. If one performed a certain ritual action
it would have a specific result.
• Ideas concerning karma evolved and all actions were
understood to cause an effect. Actions performed by an
individual would cause some sort of effect on the
individual in this life, or even in a later life.
• In Buddhist thought karma has a causative nature. The
actions that are intentionally performed by the individual
will have a particular karmic result. Well-intentioned good
deeds will result in a pleasant and favourable karmic
result whilst malicious and hurtful misdeeds will result in
a poor and unfavourable karmic result.
• Karma does not always have immediate results, but can
take many lifetimes to have an effect.
• Positive actions can take a variety of forms.
• In the Puññakiriyavatthu Sutta (A IV 146) the Buddha
outlines three bases of merit:
1. Generosity- dāna
2. Ethical Conduct- sīla
3. Cultivation/Meditation- bhāvana
• Dāna can refer to any act that is performed with an
unselfish attitude and positive view of giving.
• It is an important aspect of Buddhism as it outlines the
relationship that exists between the laity and the
monastic community (Saṅgha).
A monk
receiving a gift
of food from a
member of the
lay community
in Myanmar
(2009).
• Sīla is a way of acting in a considered ethical manner.
• This requires the individual to ensure that they act, think
and speak in ways that are positive and conducive to
positive mental attitudes.
• Sīla is explored within the Eight-fold Path where it is
stated that right speech, right action and right
livelihood are all forms of acting ethically.
In South East Asia it
is common for men
to ordain as monks
for a short period.
The man dressed in
white is ordaining in
memory of a relative
in Laos (2007).
• Bhāvana refers to the cultivation and
development of the individual. This can take a
number of forms:
• citta-bhāvanā- development of the mind
• kāya-bhāvanā- development of the body
• mettā-bhāvanā- development of loving kindness
• paññā-bhāvanā- development of wisdom
• samādhi-bhāvanā- development of
concentration.
Buddhists
cultivate
themselves by
visiting stūpas
such as the one
pictured which
is Boudhnath in
Nepal.
• The three bases of merit are not the only list of actions
that are conducive to the production of merit.
• In the Abhidhammattha Saṅgaha there is a list of ten
actions that are considered to be meritorious. They are
closely related with the three bases of merit with each of
the ten actions falling under the remit of one of the bases.
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1. Generosity (dāna)
2. Morality (sīla)
3. Meditation (bhāvana)
4. Reverence (pacāyana)
5. Service (veyyāvacca)
6. Transference of merit (pattidāna)
7. Rejoicing in (other’s) merit (pattanumodāna)
8. Hearing the Doctrine (dhamma-savana)
9. Teaching the Doctrine (dhamma-desanā)
10. Straightening one’s views (diṭṭhijjukammavasa)
A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma: The Abhidhammattha Saṅgaha
of Ācariya Anuruddha, ed. Bhikkhu Bodhi and Mahāthera Nārada
(Buddhist Publication Society: Kandy, 2007), p. 209.