These immortals must remain on earth acquiring merit by teaching mankind about the Tao.

On the other hand "correct" forms of action which approach the impossible may acquire aesthetic merit in the process.

Several vows such as Candrayana are taken by the yajnik for acquiring merit or puṇya.

Rituals and spiritual practices were done to acquire merit or puṇya.

They were divided into primary and secondary rituals, where primary rituals were the direct means of acquiring merit.

For ten more years he had dwelt on top of a pillar, acquiring additional merit.

It began to seem to him a prudent precaution to acquire merit for his soul as quickly as possible.

His solution was somewhat tortuous: God creates the deeds but allows men to acquire merit or discredit for them.

After his return, he acquired great merit for the regulation of the Tisza river.

Or perhaps you have heard about the Buddhist concept of acquiring merit.