Merit (pu ṇ ya/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 (Sa ṅ gha).

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 Sa ṅ gaha 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.

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 (di ṭṭ hijjukammavasa) A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma: The Abhidhammattha Sa ṅ gaha of Ācariya Anuruddha, ed. Bhikkhu Bodhi and Mahāthera Nārada (Buddhist Publication Society: Kandy, 2007), p. 209.