401(k)

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
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Buckwheat
Posts: 970
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2011 12:39 am
Location: California USA

401(k)

Post by Buckwheat »

Greetings,

Can a monk have money in a bank account as long they don't handle the money for the duration of ordination?

In the US, we have a retirement savings program called a 401(k) where you get to put tax free money into an investment account... the catch is that if you take the money out before retirement age you are penalized. So, if one were to have a 401(k) and decide to ordain, would you have to cash out the 401(k) and donate the money somewhere (taking the penalty), or can you leave the money alone and not handle it for the duration of ordination (this option leaves the money intact in case ordination does not pan out).

Thanks,
Scott
Sotthī hontu nirantaraṃ - May you forever be well.
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Cittasanto
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Re: 401(k)

Post by Cittasanto »

Buckwheat wrote:Greetings,

Can a monk have money in a bank account as long they don't handle the money for the duration of ordination?

In the US, we have a retirement savings program called a 401(k) where you get to put tax free money into an investment account... the catch is that if you take the money out before retirement age you are penalized. So, if one were to have a 401(k) and decide to ordain, would you have to cash out the 401(k) and donate the money somewhere (taking the penalty), or can you leave the money alone and not handle it for the duration of ordination (this option leaves the money intact in case ordination does not pan out).

Thanks,
Scott
from my knowledge many monastics still have some sort of funds due to inheritance... some of which have had conditions placed upon them so that the money can not be given away or the like due to family perceptions, so the money is placed into a trust which can not be gotten to. i.e. the funds can not be handled or used easily so as good as not present for the person, and no offense is incurred directly, and they only have it due to obligations set on them.

There are monks who do handle money, after all it is not a very serious offense compared to others, all that is needed to be done is confess and relinquish the funds, and there are specific times this is not an offense, such as when one finds valuables in the monastery and they are being taken somewhere for safe keeping, but that doesn't mean that it should or could be disregarded, some monasteries consider the monks who do handle & use money as from a different line of ordination, like the theravada and tibetan vinaya lines are not the same monks regarding rules observed.
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Buckwheat
Posts: 970
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2011 12:39 am
Location: California USA

Re: 401(k)

Post by Buckwheat »

Thank you, Cittasanto. :anjali:
Sotthī hontu nirantaraṃ - May you forever be well.
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