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FREE FROM MONEY English
Bhikkhu Buddha Dhatu
Published on Mar 12, 2017
http://dhammatalks.net/Books4/Dhammin…

A Life Free from Money

Information about the Money Rules
for Buddhist Monks and Nuns

by Dhamminda Bhikkhu

This manuscript may be reproduced without the permission of the author.

Contents

Part 1 Information For Lay Supporters

Part 2 The Fault In Accepting Money
Part 3 The Rules Concerning Money

Part 4 Forfeiture And Confession

Part 5 Modern Methods

Conclusion

Information about the Money Rules

This article was written for the many bhikkhus who have asked me
questions about the money rules found in the Vinaya. Since a newly
ordained bhikkhu has little chance of being able to read the
commentaries I have translated many sections from there. I hope that
there is sufficient information in this article to help bhikkhus to
understand how to keep these rules.

Part 1. Information for Lay Supporters

Do you know that the Buddha did not allow monks and novices to accept money?

You will certainly have noticed that the vast majority of monks do
accept and use money. This is one of the factors that will lead to the
disappearance of the Buddha´s Teaching. You can help to keep the
Buddha´s Teaching alive by learning how to offer allowable requisites.

In this section we will list the main points that a layperson should
remember so that a monk (bhikkhu) may obtain requisites without breaking
the rules of Vinaya.

1. Never offer money to bhikkhus, but only
offer allowable requisites such as robes, medicine, books, or tickets
for transport. If you are unsure as to what a bhikkhu needs then you can
ask him, or invite him to ask you if he needs anything.

2. A
fund for requisites can be left with a kappiya (someone who performs
services for a bhikkhu) and he should be instructed to buy and offer
requisites for a bhikkhu, a group of bhikkhus, or the sangha of a
monastery. Do not ask the bhikkhu, `To whom should this be given to?´ If
you ask in this way then it is not allowable for a bhikkhu to point out
a kappiya. Simply say, `Venerable Sir, I want to offer requisites to
you. Who is your kappiya?´

3. Having instructed the kappiya then
inform the bhikkhu by saying, `I have left a fund for requisites worth
`x´ dollars with your kappiya. When you need requisites ask him and he
will offer them to you.´

4. If you already know who the bhikkhu´s
kappiya is then you can simply leave the fund with the kappiya and
inform the bhikkhu as above in no 3.

Please read the above
carefully and take note of what to say. The above procedure was allowed
by the Buddha in what is called the `Mendaka allowance´. It is found in
the Bhesajja Khandhaka of Mahavagga in the Vinaya Pitaka and the
translation of it reads:

Bhikkhus, there are people of faith and
respect and if they should entrust money in the hands of a kappiya and
instruct him saying, `With this money offer allowable requisites to this
Venerable One,´ then bhikkhus I allow you to accept whatever allowable
requisites are obtained with that money, but bhikkhus, in no way
whatsoever do I allow money to be accepted or searched for.´

Also
a rule called Raja-sikkhapada, the tenth rule of the Kathina Vagga in
the Nissaggiya Pacittiya section of the Patimokkha gives relevant
information. It is translated as follows:

If a king, a king´s
officer, a brahmin, or a layperson should send a messenger with money in
order to buy a robe for a bhikkhu saying, `Having bought a robe with
this money offer it to such and such a bhikkhu,´ and if that messenger
should approach that bhikkhu and say, `Venerable Sir, this money for
buying a robe has been brought here for you. Venerable Sir, please
accept this money for buying a robe.´ Then that bhikkhu should say to
that messenger, `We do not accept money for buying a robe, we accept
robes if they are offered at an appropriate time and if they are
allowable.´

If then that messenger should ask, `Venerable Sir, is
there anyone who performs services for you?´ Then if that bhikkhu wants
a robe he should point out someone who performs services for him be he a
monastery attendant or a layperson saying, `Such and such performs
services for bhikkhus.´
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