Lzh Mi Bu Vb Np 30Money

THE SUTTA ON MONEY (RŪPIYA)

Background

This rule belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically the Pātimokkha Nissaggiya Pācittiya section, rules in which bhikkhus who violate them must relinquish the offending object and then confess. In the context of the early Sangha, the Buddha established distinct rules to govern the use of material resources by bhikkhus, in order to protect the pure life and preserve the unity of practice.

The issue of money (rūpiya), including gold, silver, and forms of currency, was prohibited by the Buddha from being accepted directly by bhikkhus. This prohibition was not due to hatred of material things, but because accepting money leads to attachment, worldly transactions, and dependence on laypeople, thereby harming the mind of the practitioner.

Main Content

The sutta states that bhikkhus must not accept money in any form. If a householder or relative offers money to a bhikkhu, whether as a gift or for the bhikkhu’s use, the bhikkhu must refuse it or return it immediately. The act of accepting money is considered a Nissaggiya Pācittiya violation, an offence in which the offender must publicly relinquish the offending object before the Sangha and then report his fault.

In particular, this Vinaya text gives detailed regulations: if money is placed under the name of a bhikkhu or the community, a steward or another suitable person may use that money to purchase necessities for the bhikkhu, but the bhikkhu himself may not directly conduct transactions with money. The boundary between “permitted indirect use” and “prohibited direct acceptance” is clearly outlined to avoid confusion.

Practical Meaning

The regulation concerning money reflects a profound psychology of practice. Money is a symbol of commerce, craving for gain, and dependence on the world. When a bhikkhu relinquishes ownership of money, he also relinquishes one of the strongest chains of greed, hatred, and delusion, the three root poisons.