Re: Vinaya and Bhikkhus in Parliament

At 10:26 PM 24-05-05, Gunnar Gällmo wrote:

>It has been pointed out here that bhikkhus are not
>permitted to deal with money (although in Sri Lanka, I
>have got the impression that they can sit on the seats
>"For Clergy" in the buses only if they pay); and how
>is it possible to be a member of an organization
>deciding about the national budget without dealing
>with money?

"Dealing with money" is a rather ambiguous way of summarising all the Vinaya rules related to money.

"... there are four major rules concerning money found in the Vinaya:

1. Rupiya-sikkhapada (Nissaggiya Pacittiya, no. 18)
2. Mendaka-sikkhapada (Vinaya Mahavagga, Bhesajja Khandhaka)
3. Raja-sikkhapada (Nissaggiya Pacittiya, no.10)
4. Rupiya-samvohara-sikkhapada (Nissaggiya Pacittiya, no. 19)"

"A Life Free from Money" by Dhamminda Bhikkhu

Anyone interested can read more about "Rules concerning Money" here:
http://www.geocities.com/venkumara/evinaya/moneyfreelife.html#3
Those who can read Chinese may prefer to read this:
http://www.geocities.com/venkumara/evinaya/fenwenbuqu.html#c2
I think the Chinese translation/version has a better sequencing of content compared to the original English.

>I have understood that a consequence of the
>prohibition for bhikkhus dealing with money must be
>that all economical responsibility is resting with the
>laity. Is this correct?

In a way, this is correct. But if a monk choose to make use of the Mendaka Allowance, some degree of responsibility falls on the bhikkhu.


peace

Kumâra Bhikkhu