Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Pc 156Stingy With Families

THE SUTRA ON STINGINESS TOWARD FAMILIES

Background

The Kulamaccharinī Sutra (Stinginess Toward Families) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The regulations in the Vinaya Piṭaka are not abstract moral judgments, but concrete guidance born from situations that occurred in the monastic community while the Buddha was still alive.

This text revolves around a fundamental issue in Buddhism: the attitude of one who has gone forth toward possessions, material things, and relationships with the worldly family. In accordance with the basic Five Precepts, noble monastics must abandon greed (lobha) and must not hoard possessions for themselves. However, this text emphasizes a more subtle aspect: the act of being “stingy,” selfishness or reluctance in sharing with or supporting family members.

The historical context shows that this was a period in which Buddhism was developing, when those who had gone forth needed to protect their minds from social pressures and family affections that could weaken concentration in practice.

Main Content

Kulamaccharinī points out an ethical limitation: when a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī tends to be “stingy” (maccharī) toward their family, that is, reluctant to share, support, or interact with them honestly and generously. This is not the complete rejection of family, for Theravāda Buddhism does not deny blood relationships; rather, it means not allowing selfishness to distort those interactions.

The text prescribes that one who has gone forth should not “keep hidden” their practice, benefits, or possessions from family under the name of personal ambition. If parents or siblings need help, the renunciant should act from compassion (mettā), not from calculation of gain. Even the relinquishing of material things should be done with a generous mind, without trying to evade responsibility or act shrewdly like a merchant.