Lzh Mi Bi Vb Pc 89Stingy With Families

The Kulamaccharinī Scripture: Greed in Relation to Families

Background

The Kulamaccharinī rule belongs to the Minor Rules section (Pācittiya) of the traditional Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, reflecting the principles of communal life among monastics in the time of the Buddha. It is one of the detailed ethical rules teaching how renunciants, and also the Buddhist community, should conduct themselves in relationship with families who support the Dharma.

The term “Kulamaccharinī” (Kulamaccharī in the feminine form “inī”) means “greedy or stingy with families,” from “kula” (family) and “maccharī” (greed, stinginess). This rule arose from specific cases in which ascetics or laypeople exploited relationships with patron families in order to accumulate private goods, or benefited only from certain families while neglecting others. Such conduct is contrary to the spirit of the Saṅgha, an independent and self-sufficient community of practice and learning that does not depend on private preferential relationships.

Main Content

The Kulamaccharinī rule forbids bhikkhus, bhikkhunīs, and permitted monastics from exploiting relationships with patron families to accumulate goods, food, or gifts for themselves or for a small group while excluding other families. Specifically, this rule reminds them that they should not:

Concentrate on receiving gifts only from certain families, thereby causing unfairness and discord in the community.

Use the position of an ascetic to encourage a family to provide food or material things privately for oneself, or suggest that this family should be given priority over another family.

Conceal or fail to share fairly what has been received, allowing it to accumulate for personal or group benefit.

This conduct is regarded as a “pācittiya” (peccati, a minor offense), but it still requires correction and confession, because it reflects unwholesome qualities described in the five hindrances (nīvaraṇa): greed (lobha), anger, sloth, restlessness, and doubt.