福田 "Field of blessings;" "field of merit." (1) A reference to the three treasures: the Buddha, the sangha and dharma; also, one's parents and the poverty-stricken. These are the objects toward which one should direct his/her religious practice. (2) The place where people nurture and develop their meritorious virtues. (3) The practices which lead to enlightenment.

The field of blessedness, i.e. any sphere of kindness, charity, or virtue; there are categories of 2, 3, 4, and 8, e.g. that of study and that of charity; parents, teachers, etc.; the field of poverty as a monk, etc.

田以生長為義，人若行善修慧，猶如農夫於田下種，能得福慧之報，故名福田。

布施的對象就如能讓布施者生福之田地，故稱接受布施者為福田。

puṇya-kṣetra, dakṣiṇīya; kṣetra, guṇa-kṣetra, dakṣiṇā, dakṣiṇīyatā, dākṣiṇeya-bhūmi, parama-kāra-kriyā, puṇya-kṣetra-bhūta, puṇyamayaṃ kṣetram, viprakarṣa, sukṣetra.

瑜伽八十三卷八頁云：言福田者：攝受正見軌範淨圓滿德故。

二解法蘊足論二卷十五頁云：言福田者：如世尊告阿難陀言：我不見有諸天魔梵沙門婆羅門等天人眾中，堪受已惠施、善惠施，已供養、善供養，已祠祀、善祠祀，如我僧者。阿難當知；若於我僧，已惠施、善惠施，已供養、善供養，已祠祀、善祠祀；作少功勞。獲大果利。故名福田。