[Q&A] Is a monk allowed to receive money?

[Johann]

[Q&A] Is a monk allowed to receive money?

Is a monk allowed to receive money?

I have seen different answers to that question, so I assume it varies from school to school, is it right?

I am not talking about donations to the Sangha as a whole, like a fund, but giving cash to a monk.

Venerable members of the Sangha,
walking in front Fellows in leading the holly life.

     

Venerable fellows,

In Respect of the Triple Gems, Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, in Respect of the Elders of the community  , my person to share a question and investigate it. Please, may all knowledgeable Venerables and Dhammika, out of compassion, correct my person, if something is not correct and fill also graps, if something is missing.

Valued Upasaka, Upasika, Aramika(inis),
dear Readers and Visitors,

Householder Konrad, interested,

 

- Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa -  

Householder Konrad, interested,

NO, he is also not allowed to order or ask to use money, not allowed to own, possess, means of trade and exchange.

Lay people may organice funds for requisites give the look over to someone assisting (lay person, someone not observing 10 precepts) the monks. Monks may accept such allowed, if wishing so. Nevertheless the monk would not be allowed to hold power over them. In cases the requisite might not be received later on, he may inform the original doner that his gift was not received.

There are ways how a monk would be allowed to let a helper known a lack indirectly.

A good and firm faithful essay on this matter, now sadly a means of certain trade already is "The Use of Money by Monks ", by late Venerable Bodhesako.

To be clear, it's also impossible, while respecting the tradition of the Noble Ones, to control and hold bank accounts, credit cards, cheques, insurance founds... further, what ever trade with lay people is not allowed as well as asking lat people for fonds, one benefits from, as well.

Not causing others to use money on ones account (telling, signs) includes of course ALL money donation calls, even if not for ones own sake. A very common misdeed, btw. Getting involves in things like installing a "donation-box", for what ever purpose, fit here as well as an improper conduct.

Those who do, having not enough faith or other objectives, one does right to regard them as poor and they are actually poor in all regards, living with signs of householders in the robes of the Arahats.

Faithful lay people provide joyfull all of what is required for the holly life and there is no need of money or controll at all.

What one feeds, inwardly and outwardly grows for one. That's always important to consider. And good monks are only near to wise and generous, attentive observing ones. That is where one can change ones current conditions to a better and make the most benefical of ones sacrifices.

Vinaya leaves enough "holes" for those still holding on possessions and control via mind and one does not even need to attain Noblehood to respect Vinaya. Those who have really abound the householders way are less, very less, so gifted if meeting or perceive one as such.

In regard of not-knownly receiving: even here are given ways. Should if happen that a monk accidently accepted money or means of exchange - say he received a bag and it contained money hidden in it - he needs to confess it and abound it, attended by fellow, behind the monastery boundary. (Something possible problematic in relation to certain laws, so good if not bringing monks in "troubles" by such.)

...giving cash to a monk, wrong?

Giving is never wrong if not harmfull. Whether a monks receives, accept, is allowed..., that's the monks part. Even if not receiving something, one should not forget that intention is kamma. If one knows that monks are not given by the Buddha to accept, hold, use money, one does of course harm, harm in three ways: first oneself, because feeding lack of faith, secound the individual monk (who might be not strong enough or bad informed), third the reputation of the Sangha at large. So good, after having read all here, proved and understood, to simply abstain from such if used to do.

It's not wrong at all to ask a monk whether he has someone who could take care of a fund for him or the Sangha and to inform about such after then. Sure, there might be those who do not even "hold" assistants. In such cases one is left over to ones creativity how to manage things.

Anumodana

[Johann]

here they are...

Whether it's gold, silver, paper money,.... is not the point, the point is the inherent power/capability this commodity enable one to buy virtually anything and everything, wherever, whenever, and however one wants that is particularly troublesome to those who have already took the vow of renunciation. As mentioned in my previous post, during the full ordination ceremony, each individual monk/nun have to recite the Vinaya rules one by one and promise to observe and uphold them, while fully aware that they WILL break them eventually. So if money handling is allowed, all monastics would've already broken the 4th precept of lying/false-speech way before the full ordination ceremony is completed! Even in a cut-throat environment like corporate America, if one's caught lying on his resume, s/he'd get the boot in a hurry. So it seems like there're only 2 professions that fully endorse lying: monasticism and politics

It's not wrong, that it is in many cases actually a start with a deliberately lie (except the many cases where people don't even know what they recite. Whether such can be even an ordiantion, if not knowing of what saying, is another huge hot topic).

[Johann]

...and please, don't one think that those "Vinaya-monks" do a better... they simply use a certain formalism to violate the spirit. No need to speak about even booking and holding recipients... Pointless, and sad but true. Atma is aware of not more then 2,maybe 3, where ever looking. There are as good as no more Pabbajitos anywhere, and if, sure to get banned as "fakes"...

And you know, of what ever might be obtained in wrong ways, has gone useless for the Sangha for ever... but they have the Suttas now central by trade, brides and thieves: to learn them to finally know that their already failed and cut themselves and their dependencies off.

[Johann]

...endless stupidy and favors...

When I first met Ayya X many years ago when she was still in the Bay Area, I tried to give her some cash for her monastery and she directed me to give to the lay steward.

Replay of a misguided: "Sounded like she passed the preliminary nissaggiya test".

Not at all: It's of course likewise use of money, letting make use of money, even if suggesting what to do with it, such as "give it to him", or "good to deposite it there": to be forfeited and confessed (like 95 % of monasteries and whats around, and of course fits as well with Dhamma-literature).

Even if making use of what's obtained wrongly entities a Dukkata offense. Guess where to meet monks and nuns sticking to Vinaya.

As femal are naturally more creative in "not using money", there are plenty additional rules, even after "passing the forfeit".

Does one seriously believe that in this days even palaces come into being if not based on grave faults and huge corrution?

[Johann]

If one dwells near corrupt monks an corrupted families, it's sometimes hard to gain basics, if still seeking, but over all one is never that poor and supportless as those using money or servants to hold it and act for them.

If a good monk in corrupt societies where corrupt monks reign lives, he might die without gotten noticed "he has servants, has family... who looks over him", or get soon thrown out by jealous "fellows", if lay people ever again, look after him first.

It might sound strange, but the one thing, the only thing (as it is a must do thing, other than eat and drink or dwell) Atma often lacks, when wise people are far, are means to shave the head, really sharp razor blades, able to go through fine hair.

It's because nobody in monasteries cares much about it. If needed, people are send to buy next, like else.

Sometimes it happens that huge amounts appear. To reduce the need of wrongdoing for others, not gaining such, always quick shared further, as storing also makes just bussy and big bags are mostly low quality fakes as well.

Over all, it's nevertheless desire for comfort and sensuality that leaves one bond under uneven or other homes.