Pattidāna the Pali term for Transfer of merit must be peculiar to Buddhism. Puñña or merit itself in Buddhism probably connotes a different meaning or a deeper meaning from the merit one normally understands. That merit has the quality of being particularly good or worthy to deserve praise or reward is undeniable but in Buddhism; besides beneficial, it is a protective force which accumulates from good deeds, acts, or thoughts and could be transferred to deceased relatives, deities, and all sentient beings. I suppose believing that one could protect someone else by sharing merits generates a good feeling.
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