The references are here: https://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebsut018.htm
Mike
There is a difference, i'm not a wandering monk ala tudong like this jason the wandering monk with no particular place to go or mission to do. I only travel when I have been invited to a place to share the dhamma, the people have paid for my transport(only rarely transporting me themselves, depending on the distance), and spent time and money to setup the various venues in which I will conduct a short retreat, talk, Q&A etc.
What you say is very true. Once a friend of mine took leave from his work, left home at 3 AM, and drove 3 hrs to pick a monk and another 2 hrs drive to a government office for the monk’s visa and payments, then a return journey of 5 hrs. All this because of the monk doesn’t use money. I appreciate monk’s dedication, but it looks odd practically. Buddha’s time, surely keeping a pot of gold coins with a monk may have cost his life, but these days, money is mostly a number stored in a computer. And then there are debit cards.
Buddha hadn't prohibited to use his words, but prohibited to use money. Using money cannot be purified by simple confession, but the monk should relinquish all his money in the presence of sangha, also all he bought on these money are not allowable for all sangha.
That is true. But still I think simply start using money is not really a solution. May be possessing a credit card without using it (i.e. always asking a lay person to assist) would help foreign monks to overcome some of the difficulties. Although it is still somewhat hypocritical, but I would agree here with Ven. Thanissaro that possessing a credit card is not explicitly forbidden by Vinaya.
That's an interesting idea. Thanks for mentioning.Volovsky wrote: ↑Mon Sep 10, 2018 3:37 am May be possessing a credit card without using it (i.e. always asking a lay person to assist) would help foreign monks to overcome some of the difficulties. Although it is still somewhat hypocritical, but I would agree here with Ven. Thanissaro that possessing a credit card is not explicitly forbidden by Vinaya.
Not my idea . Ven. Thanissaro's idea. Here is his reasoning for it:
BMC-1At present, the term [namely "silver"] would include coins and paper currency, as well as money orders and cashiers checks not made out to a specific payee, as these meet all three requirements of a currency: (1) They are a generally accepted medium of exchange; (2) they are of standard recognized value; and (3) they are presentable by any bearer. The following items, because they do not fulfill all three of these requirements, would not count as “silver” under this rule: money orders and cashier’s checks made out to a specific payee; personal checks and travelers’ checks; credit cards and debit cards; gift cards, phone cards, frequent flyer miles; food stamps; and promissory notes.
[...]
As mentioned under NP 18, checks, credit cards, debit cards, and traveler’s checks do not count as gold or money. However, any trade arranged with them would come under this rule.
Thank you. Well then, even one escapes the gold/money rule, still get caught in the trading rule.Volovsky wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 12:04 amNot my idea . Ven. Thanissaro's idea. Here is his reasoning for it:
BMC-1At present, the term [namely "silver"] would include coins and paper currency, as well as money orders and cashiers checks not made out to a specific payee, as these meet all three requirements of a currency: (1) They are a generally accepted medium of exchange; (2) they are of standard recognized value; and (3) they are presentable by any bearer. The following items, because they do not fulfill all three of these requirements, would not count as “silver” under this rule: money orders and cashier’s checks made out to a specific payee; personal checks and travelers’ checks; credit cards and debit cards; gift cards, phone cards, frequent flyer miles; food stamps; and promissory notes.
[...]
As mentioned under NP 18, checks, credit cards, debit cards, and traveler’s checks do not count as gold or money. However, any trade arranged with them would come under this rule.
As I understand, a monk can simply ask (in allowable by Vinaya way) a lay person to perform a transaction for him with this credit card. And it is much easier to find somebody who can press a few bottoms on computer, than somebody who is willing to spend his own money for a monk.