功く徳どく

noun

merit; virtuous deed; act of charity

Buddhist term for the spiritual merit accumulated through good deeds, charity, or religious practice.

• お寺てらに寄き付ふをすると功く徳どくを積つむことができると信しんじられている。

  It is believed that donating to a temple allows one to accumulate merit.

noun

divine reward; blessing; grace

Buddhist term for the blessings or grace bestowed by buddhas and gods as a result of virtuous deeds.

• 先せん祖ぞの功く徳どくによって私わたしたちは今日きょうこうして平へい和わに暮くらせているのかもしれない。

  Perhaps we are able to live peacefully today thanks to the blessings of our ancestors' virtuous deeds.

noun

merit; meritum

Christian theological term for the merit earned through good works, equivalent to Latin 'meritum'.

• キリスト教きょう神しん学がくでは、功く徳どくの概がい念ねんは救きゅう済さいと関かん連れんして議ぎ論ろんされる。

  In Christian theology, the concept of merit is discussed in relation to salvation.