Ordination & Debt

Exploring the Dhamma, as understood from the perspective of the ancient Pali commentaries.
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dylanj
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Ordination & Debt

Post by dylanj »

I completed 2.5 years of university & accumulated quite a bit of debt in the process. I dropped out after this time because I had decided I wish to ordain & did not want to accumulate more debt. I know ordainees are expected to not have unpaid debts, but I am not sure what the specific requirements & conditions are. I would ordain by the end of this year if I could. But if I have to pay off all my debt beforehand I am not sure if I will ever be able to. Any information regarding what constitutes debt as a prohibition of ordination is much appreciated.
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
Derek
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Re: Ordination & Debt

Post by Derek »

It's in the Vinaya / Khandhaka / Mahāvagga / Iṇāyikavatthu:

“Na, bhikkhave, iṇāyiko pabbājetabbo. Yo pabbājeyya, āpatti dukkaṭassā”ti.

[The Buddha] said: “Monks, a debtor should not be let go forth. Whoever should let (one such) go forth, there is an offence of wrong-doing.”

https://suttacentral.net/en/pi-tv-kd1
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Dhammarakkhito
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Re: Ordination & Debt

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

is the context not important here? the debtor (http://dictionary.sutta.org/browse/i/i% ... %C4%81yiko) in this case had run away and was probably some sort of indentured servant; "Now at that time a certain man, a debtor, having run away, came to have gone forth among the monks. The creditors, having seen (him), spoke thus: “This is our very debtor. Come along, let us bring him (back).”"
in my country (and the op's) a financial institution cannot imprison someone who has failed to pay a debt; they can't collect money from you if you aren't working.. you would only be required to make payments (working or not) if it were a court-ordered payment such as for one who's on parole.

furthermore, the story of a debtor is sandwiched between the story of a branded man and one of a slave; also in that section there are the story of a scourged man, one of a thief with a wanted notice and one of a thief who has broken out of jail. is the context clearer now? there is little danger for the saṅgha to accept someone who simply has failed to make student loan payments ((imo they're designed to be nigh unpayable)), as opposed to harboring fugitives
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Dhammarakkhito
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Re: Ordination & Debt

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

https://www.facebook.com/noblebuddhadha ... 34/?type=3

http://seeingthroughthenet.net/
https://sites.google.com/site/santipada ... allytaught
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