ABSTACT

This research has three of objectives namely, 1) to study the merit in Theravada Buddhism 2) to study the merit in Christianity (Roman Catholic), and 3) to comparatively study the merit in Theravada Buddhism and in Christianity (Roman Catholic). It is a documentary research by analyzing and synthesizing. The result of study is found that :-

Puñña or merit is the important Buddhist teaching and it is to propagate Buddhism by the principle of non-violence in life and property. It has emphasized on peace and moderation in life. The merit is significant to make Buddhist people avoid the defilements and all sorrow for developing the mind. The merit is name of goodness; the way of doing good deed is the cause of good behavior and right practice, the way of living with mindfulness and wisdom bring happiness and progress to the present life. There are three ways of making merit, namely, charity, preserve of precepts, and mind development. The advantage of merit is to be a cool, reasonable, respectable, honorable, good personality, admired and pleased person to others or one who is talking, accepted person by the society and it is to be a highest goal of faith in religion, which is Nibbana.

The merit in Christianity is the practice with the highest respect to the God. The merit is important to make Christian enter the God’s area that is the area of mental goodness. The merit has supported Christian love in God, and God also give that love for human beings. With love sincerely, it is to make mankind have mindfulness and wisdom, far away of evils, they can live in this world happily, having content on their income. There are three ways of merit making, namely, donation, sacrament, and prayer. The benefit of merit making is to make people are good health, having endurance in emotion, well-mannered, and it is to go the highest goal of faith in religion that is called living with God forever.

The goal of merit in both Buddhism and Christianity is the same way, it is to make people avoid the defilements and all sorrow for developing the mind, religion followers have always made merit to collect merit and be always mindful and have wisdom to live in the right way. To aim is the result from merit making which is good behavior and right practice. The method of merit making is suitable for status and livelihoods of religion followers that is not live in luxury or misunderstand in merit making. 

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