Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Np 9Money
Pāli / Sanskrit:Rūpiya
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Commentary on the Sutta on Money (Rūpiya)
Background
The Rūpiya is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the section on the Fifty Rules (Pañcasatika Nisaggiya Pācittiya). This is not a discourse delivered by the Buddha, but rather a set of disciplinary regulations for the Saṅgha, established in order to protect the purity of the bhikkhus.
The circumstances that gave rise to this text concern certain bhikkhus who had violated the principle of not possessing money, gold, or silver. The Buddha, perceiving that this matter affected the practice and the faith of the community, established clear rules regarding the handling of currency and material valuables. These rules were not applied to a single individual but were recorded as binding throughout the Saṅgha.
Principal Content
The rule concerning currency (rūpiya, meaning "things having form" or "gold and silver") stipulates that a bhikkhu may not possess, accept, store, or make use of money in any form whatsoever. This encompasses gold, silver, coins, and any other medium of exchange or value.
Should a bhikkhu transgress this rule, the act is regarded as a Nisaggiya Pācittiya offence—that is, an offence requiring the forfeiture of the offending item and the performance of confession before the community. The text elaborates upon specific situations: whether the bhikkhu himself receives the money directly, whether another person stores it on his behalf, or whether the bhikkhu designates someone to manage his funds—all are regarded as transgressions.
The deeper reason is that money is considered the root of greed (lobha) and of fear. It gives rise to anxieties concerning security, use, and loss, thereby obstructing the stillness of mind and the arising of wisdom. This rule is distinguished from the precepts of other religious traditions by its thoroughness—it is not "use money in a righteous manner," but rather "do not possess currency of any kind."
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