Lzh Mu Bi Vb Np 24Asking for Money
Pāli / Sanskrit:Asking for money
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Explanation of the Sutta on Asking for Money
From the Theravāda Vinaya tradition
Background
This passage is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Nisaggiya Pācittiya section, offenses that can be healed through relinquishment and confession. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of rules that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs must follow in the life of going forth. The regulations in the Vinaya Piṭaka are not profound doctrines about the Dharma, but practical instructions that help the Saṅgha maintain discipline, purity, and the confidence of the community.
The rule concerning asking for money arises from a basic principle in Buddhism: a monastic should live free from material entanglements and should not crave fame or gain. Money is regarded as one of the most dangerous assaults upon the spiritual life of a practitioner. Therefore, rules concerning money are given an important place in the Vinaya Piṭaka.
Main Content
According to the regulations in the Vinaya Piṭaka, a bhikkhu may not directly ask any person for money, whether that person is a Buddhist scholar or a layperson. Asking for money is considered a Nisaggiya Pācittiya violation, that is, an offense requiring relinquishment and the performance of remedial measures.
This rule applies to every form of directly asking for money: from explicit requests, to hints, or even creating situations intended to make another person feel compelled to give money. Even asking for money to serve Buddhist purposes is not exempt.
However, the Vinaya Piṭaka also prescribes appropriate ways in which monks and nuns may receive support: laypeople may voluntarily offer money, or monastics may ask others to obtain necessary items for their livelihood without mentioning money.
Practical Meaning
This rule is not greed or an inversion of values. On the contrary, it reflects a deep understanding of the nature of craving (lobha) and the way it can silently enter the mind of a monastic.
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