Merit is an important concept to Asian people. In Sanskrit, merit is called punya. In every pagoda in Vietnam, especially in the countryside, laypeople find time to help with whatever work needs to be done. They believe that work done for the pagoda will bear good fruits — material and spiritual — for themselves and their children. The pagoda belongs to all the people; thus anything that benefits the pagoda spiritually benefits the people.
— Thich Nhat Hanh, Fragrant Palm Leaves