<blockquote>
  <p>What is the sutta where Buddha says about the order of merits as in for example "Observing the 5 precepts gives more merit than offering alms" and such.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The category of doing merits by itself doesn't decide the weight of the merit, instead it's the quality/purity/sincerity of one's body/speech/and mind while doing it that'll determine the kammic weight:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard: "There are these three grounds for meritorious activity. Which three? The ground for meritorious activity made of giving, the ground for meritorious activity made of virtue, and the ground for meritorious activity made of development [meditation]. These are the three grounds for meritorious activity." ~~ <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.3.050-099.than.html#iti-060" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Iti 60</a> ~~</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-08T02:02:42.887Z
You didn't answer the question.
Kumāra Bhikkhu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-08T14:24:49.450Z
@KumāraBhikkhu Bhante, feel free to participate more and enlighten us lay folks. We lay folks still have day jobs and much lay life responsibilities, which prevent us from dedicating time and resources to Dhamma study and practice, unlike you full-time professional monastics.
santa100
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-07T20:16:34.753Z
2020-06-07T20:16:34.753Z
santa100
<p>I believe you're looking for <strong>Velāma Sutta</strong> (AN 9:20). Here's  Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu's translation: <a href="https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN9_20.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN9_20.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-08T02:16:50.753Z
2020-06-08T02:16:50.753Z
Kumāra Bhikkhu
<p>What is the sutta where Buddha says about the order of merits as in for example "Observing the 5 precepts gives more merit than offering alms" and such.</p>

<theravada><reference-request><sutras><merit>
Sutta on which Buddha states the gravity of merits
# Sutta on which Buddha states the gravity of merits

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-07)

What is the sutta where Buddha says about the order of merits as in for example "Observing the 5 precepts gives more merit than offering alms" and such.

**Tags:** theravada, reference-request, sutras, merit


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-06-08. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

I believe you're looking for **Velāma Sutta** (AN 9:20). Here's Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu's translation: <https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN9_20.html>


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### Answer by username_1 on 2020-06-07. Score: 0

> What is the sutta where Buddha says about the order of merits as in for example "Observing the 5 precepts gives more merit than offering alms" and such.

The category of doing merits by itself doesn't decide the weight of the merit, instead it's the quality/purity/sincerity of one's body/speech/and mind while doing it that'll determine the kammic weight:

> This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard: "There are these three grounds for meritorious activity. Which three? The ground for meritorious activity made of giving, the ground for meritorious activity made of virtue, and the ground for meritorious activity made of development [meditation]. These are the three grounds for meritorious activity." ~~ [Iti 60](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.3.050-099.than.html#iti-060) ~~

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: You didn't answer the question.  
> **username_1**: @KumāraBhikkhu Bhante, feel free to participate more and enlighten us lay folks. We lay folks still have day jobs and much lay life responsibilities, which prevent us from dedicating time and resources to Dhamma study and practice, unlike you full-time professional monastics.  

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