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Merit making that can bring the same beneficial and protective

Puṇya derived from puñña in Pali refers to doing good deeds or good karma and eliminating defilements (kilesa or kleshas) from the mind; as a result, mental purification can be achieved. On an important Buddhist day, Buddhists observe it by making merit – giving alms and making an offering along with cash to the monks. However, according to the Buddha’s Teachings, giving alms and making an offering are not the only two ways of merit-making.

In fact, there are 10 ways of merit-making that can bring the same beneficial and protective force as follows:

1. Dana – giving the essentials to or sharing them with others
2. Sila – maintaining moral actions of body, speech and mind
3. Bhavana – developing mental tranquility and insight so that we can see things according to reality
4. Apacayana – showing humility and respect
5. Veyyavacca – carrying out duties towards others and the society
6. Pattidana – offering others an opportunity to make merit with us and transferring merit to others
7. Pattanumodana – sincerely rejoicing in others’ merit
8. Dhammadesana – teaching and explaining the Dhamma, knowledge or good ideas to others
9. Dhammassavana – acquiring knowledge with wisdom and mindfulness
10. Dhitthujukamma – correcting our view

Merit-making, therefore, is not confined to just monks or temples. We can make merit – cultivating the practice of giving and virtuous conduct – in our daily life which will be of advantage to us and the society.