The Buddha describes the four streams of merit, outflows of good, and supports for ease. The fourth quality is generosity.
“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Ayaṁ paṭhamo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro.
“Bhikkhus, there are these four streams of merit, outflows of good, and supports for ease. What four? Here, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones is endowed with perfect clarity in the Buddha — The Blessed One is an |Arahant::a worthy one, a fully awakened being, epithet of the Buddha [arahant]|, perfectly Awakened One, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, who has reached the destination, knower of the world, an unsurpassed guide of trainable persons, a teacher of gods and humans, Buddha, Fortunate One. This is the first stream of merit, outflow of good, and support for ease.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe…
Further again, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones is endowed with perfect clarity in the teachings of the Buddha — The |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| is well proclaimed by the Blessed One, directly visible, immediate, inviting verification, |onward leading::applicable, relevant, practical [opaneyyika]|, to be personally experienced by the wise. This is the second stream of merit, outflow of good, and support for ease.
saṅghe …pe…
Further again, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones is endowed with perfect clarity in the |Saṅgha::The community of monks and nuns practicing in line with the Buddha’s teachings. In the broader sense, this is the community of disciples who have realized the noble path and fruition through the Buddha’s teachings [saṅgha]| — The community of the Blessed One’s disciples is practicing the good way, practicing the upright way, practicing the true way, practicing the proper way; that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals—this community of the Blessed One’s disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world. This is the third stream of merit, outflow of good, and support for ease.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato. Ayaṁ catuttho puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro.
Further again, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones lives at home with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, generous, open-handed, enjoying relinquishment, responsive to requests, and joyful in sharing gifts. This is the fourth stream of merit, outflow of good, and support for ease.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā”ti.
These, bhikkhus, are the four streams of merit, outflows of good, and supports for ease.”
“Bhikkhus, there are these four streams of merit, outflows of good, and supports for ease. What four? Here, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones is endowed with perfect clarity in the Buddha — The Blessed One is an |Arahant::a worthy one, a fully awakened being, epithet of the Buddha [arahant]|, perfectly Awakened One, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, who has reached the destination, knower of the world, an unsurpassed guide of trainable persons, a teacher of gods and humans, Buddha, Fortunate One. This is the first stream of merit, outflow of good, and support for ease.
Further again, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones is endowed with perfect clarity in the teachings of the Buddha — The |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| is well proclaimed by the Blessed One, directly visible, immediate, inviting verification, |onward leading::applicable, relevant, practical [opaneyyika]|, to be personally experienced by the wise. This is the second stream of merit, outflow of good, and support for ease.
Further again, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones is endowed with perfect clarity in the |Saṅgha::The community of monks and nuns practicing in line with the Buddha’s teachings. In the broader sense, this is the community of disciples who have realized the noble path and fruition through the Buddha’s teachings [saṅgha]| — The community of the Blessed One’s disciples is practicing the good way, practicing the upright way, practicing the true way, practicing the proper way; that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals—this community of the Blessed One’s disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world. This is the third stream of merit, outflow of good, and support for ease.
Further again, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones lives at home with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, generous, open-handed, enjoying relinquishment, responsive to requests, and joyful in sharing gifts. This is the fourth stream of merit, outflow of good, and support for ease.
These, bhikkhus, are the four streams of merit, outflows of good, and supports for ease.”
“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Ayaṁ paṭhamo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe…
saṅghe …pe…
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato. Ayaṁ catuttho puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā”ti.