[1150] P. Is it not to be said: "Merit (puñña) accomplished through use (paribhogamaya) increases"?
S. Yes.
P. But was it not said by the Blessed One: "Bhikkhus, there are these four streams of merit (puññābhisanda), streams of the wholesome (kusalābhisanda), nutriments of happiness — heavenly, ripening in happiness, conducive to heaven — which lead to what is wished for, desired, and agreeable, to welfare and to happiness. Which four? Bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu, while using the robe (cīvara) of any person, enters and dwells in a measureless concentration of mind (appamāṇa cetosamādhi), the stream of merit, the stream of the wholesome, of that person is measureless — a nutriment of happiness, heavenly, ripening in happiness, conducive to heaven — and it leads to what is wished for, desired, and agreeable, to welfare and to happiness. Bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu, while using the almsfood (piṇḍapāta) of any person … while using the lodging (senāsana) … while using the medicinal requisites for the sick (gilānapaccaya-bhesajja-parikkhāra), enters and dwells in a measureless concentration of mind, the stream of merit, the stream of the wholesome, of that person is measureless — a nutriment of happiness, heavenly, ripening in happiness, conducive to heaven — and it leads to what is wished for, desired, and agreeable, to welfare and to happiness. These, bhikkhus, are the four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness — heavenly, ripening in happiness, conducive to heaven — which lead to what is wished for, desired, and agreeable, to welfare and to happiness"? Is there indeed such a discourse (suttanta)?
S. Yes.
P. Well then, merit accomplished through use does increase.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.