Lzh Mi Bi Vb Pc 125Ordain One With Debt or Illness
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ordain one with debt or illness
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Scripture Commentary: Ordaining One Who Has Debt or Illness
Background
This scripture belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, specifically the Pātimokkha Saṃvara section, the rules to be avoided within the collection of rules for life in the Sangha. In the process of forming the Sangha, the Buddha established strict standards concerning the lawful conditions by which a person may receive pabbajjā, preliminary going forth, and upasampadā, full ordination as a monk or nun.
This rule arose from incidents when individuals entered the Sangha without meeting basic conditions. The purpose was not to exclude people facing difficulty, but to ensure that one who goes forth has an ethical foundation and social condition that allow them to practice wholeheartedly, without being bound by obligations or serious illness.
Main Content
The scripture stipulates that a person is not permitted to go forth if they are in debt or seriously ill. This condition is recorded in the rules of training (Vinaya), reflecting the practical reality of Buddhist life in ancient times.
Regarding a person with debt: If someone enters the Sangha while still having unpaid debts, this creates trouble for the lay community and for the Sangha itself. Creditors may come and disturb the process of practice, or the renunciant will always be distracted by anxiety over debt. The Buddha-Dharma encourages responsibility toward secular society before stepping onto the path of renunciation.
Regarding a seriously ill person: A person with a serious illness cannot fully perform the rules of training and the regulations of the Sangha. They will need special care, and this may become a burden for the Sangha community. Furthermore, the sick person will have difficulty observing rules concerning eating, sleeping, and practice.
However, this rule is not absolute.
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