Levels of Making Merit
First I want to refer to a survey carried out a number of years ago where people were asked to place ten items in the correct order of what they thought would give them the most merit:
1. Becoming a monk
2. Contributing enough money for the construction of a monastery
3. Having a son ordained as a monk
4. Making excursions to Buddhist shrines throughout Thailand
5. Contributing towards the repair of a monastery
6. Giving food daily to the monks and giving food on holy days
7. Becoming a novice
8. Attending a temple on all holy days and obeying the eight precepts on these days
9. Obeying the five precepts at all times