Does developing even just a moment of metta produce more merit than giving the samma sambuddha himself and the ariya sangha various danas?
NM 20 10 Velama
Now, householder, at that alms offering there was no one worthy of offerings, no one who purified the offering. Even more fruitful than the great alms offering that the brahmin Velāma gave would it be to feed one person accomplished in view. Even more fruitful than the great alms offering that the brahmin Velāma gave, and feeding a hundred persons accomplished in view, would it be to feed one once-returner. Even more fruitful than the great alms offering that the brahmin Velāma gave, and feeding a hundred once-returners, would it be to feed one non-returner. Even more fruitful than … feeding a hundred non-returners, would it be to feed one arahant. Even more fruitful than … feeding a hundred arahants, would it be to feed one paccekabuddha. [395] Even more fruitful than … feeding a hundred paccekabuddhas, would it be to feed the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One … would it be to feed the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha … would it be to build a dwelling dedicated to the Saṅgha of the four quarters … would it be for one with a mind of confidence to go for refuge to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha … would it be for one with a mind of confidence to undertake the five training rules: to abstain from the destruction of life, to abstain from taking what is not given, to abstain from sexual misconduct, to abstain from false speech, to abstain from liquor, wine, and intoxicants, the basis for heedlessness. Even more fruitful … would it be to develop a mind of loving-kindness even for the time it takes to pull a cow’s udder. “Even more fruitful, householder, than the great alms offering that the brahmin Velāma gave, and feeding one person accomplished in view, and feeding a hundred persons accomplished in view; and feeding one once-returner, and feeding a hundred once-returners; and “feeding one non-returner, and feeding a hundred non-returners; and feeding one arahant, and feeding a hundred arahants; and feeding one paccekabuddha, and feeding a hundred paccekabuddhas; and feeding the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One; and feeding the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha; and building a dwelling dedicated to the Saṅgha of the four quarters; and for one with a mind of confidence to go for refuge to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha; and for one with a mind of confidence to undertake the five training rules: to abstain from the destruction of life … to abstain from liquor, wine, and intoxicants, the basis for heedlessness; and for one to develop a mind of loving-kindness even for the time it takes to pull a cow’s udder, [396] would it be to develop the perception of impermanence just for the time of a finger snap. 1883
1883 Mp: “The perception of impermanence is strong insight that has reached the peak and is an immediate condition for the path” (aniccasaññan ti maggassa anantarapaccayabhāvena sikhāpattabalavavipassanaṃ).”
— The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: A Complete Translation of the Anguttara Nikaya (The Teachings of the Buddha) by Bhikkhu Bodhi
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Namo Buddhāya
Yes
Metta, Anapanassati, All SamathaVipassana is more Powerful than Dana to Sammāsambuddha or BuddhapamukhaSangha even.
Not only that,
Even taking one Sila, even taking Tisarana without Sila, the Merit already much much Greater than Sammāsambuddha or BuddhapamukhaSangha Dana.
Not only that,
Even an añjali, a namakkara, or reciting “Namo Buddhāya” once, or “Buddho” once praising Lord Buddha, the Merit already much Greater than Sammāsambuddha or BuddhapamukhaSangha Dana.
Why?
Three kinds of Kusala:
Dana, Sila, Bhavana.
Sila is Higher than Dana,
Bhavana is the Highest.
All Samatha Vipassana like Metta Anapanassati Asubha Kasina are Bhavana.
Reciting Buddho, Namo Buddhāya, doing one añjali, one namakkara is Puja. Puja is included in Sila.
Therefore, all of Them are of Greater Merit than even Sammāsambuddha or BuddhapamukhaSangha Dana.
But all three need to be done at least some, because different Kusala can produce sadharana and asadharana fruition (shared and unshared fruition).
Some fruition can be produced by whether Dana Sila or Bhavana.
But some fruition is mainly the domain of Dana, some fruition is mainly the domain of Sila, and some of Bhavana.
For example,
Someone do Dana but not protect Sila and not Meditate or listen to Dhamma may reborn as very rich elephant that has very bad behavior and stupid.
Someone protect Sila and Meditate but not do Dana may reborn as very wise human but very poor, difficult to find even food to survive.
Someone practice Bhavana but not practice Sila and not do Dana may become very clever animal or demon that live very poor.
Namo Buddhāya.