Ten Bases for Meritorious Deeds

The following list of ten bases for meritorious deeds (pu~n~nakiriyavathu) shows ten ways to develop wholesome karma for the sense sphere (kammavacarakuala.m). I believe this list is from a commentary on the Dharma.

I strongly recommend everyone memorize this list and make strenuous efforts to put the list into practice. This will be for your benefit now and for create conditions for a pleasant future.

  1. Daana giving generously and freely to worthy recipients such as virtuous monastics and lay people
  2. Siila – ethical conduct; maintaining at least five precepts every day and regularly observing eight precepts on Uposatha days
  3. Bhavanaa – mental development through intensive mindfulness and meditation including vipassana-contemplation or samatha-tranquility
  4. Apacaayana – reverence and respect for elders, parents, teachers, monastics, officials and so forth; recognizing the importance of their senior or guiding role
  5. Veyaavacca – service for promoting the Dharma, assisting others to do meritorious deeds
  6. Patidaana – sharing merit with others while undertaking meritorious deeds oneself
  7. Pattaanumodana – rejoicing in others’ meritorious deeds; congratulating them and being happy with them during their meritorious conduct (related to the divine abode of muditaa-altruistic joy)
  8. Dhammasavana – hearing the Dharma or reading the Dharma (a supporting condition for developing sammaaditthi-right view)
  9. Dhammadesanaa – teaching the Dharma either by speech or writing
  10. Ditthijukamavasena – straightening out one’s views, studying Dharma to be sure that one understands the Dharma correctly (also sometimes spelled: ditth’uju-kamma)

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