BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 1master, have you come late? You've lost 50!' So he told them what had happened.They criticized and complained and spread it about, 'They're arrogant, theseSakyan-son monks, and malcontent. It's no simple matter even to render them aservice. How can Upananda the Sakyan, being told by a layman, "Wait for the restof today, venerable sir," not wait?'"Stewards. According to the Commentary, there are three types of steward withwhom money might be placed: (1) indicated by the bhikkhu, (2) indicated by thedonor or his/her messenger, and (3) indicated by neither.1) Indicated by the bhikkhu covers two sorts of cases:a) The donor asks the bhikkhu who his steward is, and the bhikkhu pointshim/her out, as mentioned in the training rule.b) The donor, knowing that a particular lay person has volunteered to act as asteward or is on familiar terms with the bhikkhu, gives the money to the layperson and informs the bhikkhu — or has someone else inform him — eitherbefore or after the fact.2) Indicated by the donor covers cases where the donor chooses one of his/herown friends or employees to act as the steward for that particular gift, and informsthe bhikkhu — or has someone else inform him — either before or after the fact.3) Indicated by neither covers two separate cases:a) The donor asks the bhikkhu who his steward is, and the bhikkhu says thathe has none. Another person happens to overhear the conversation andvolunteers — in the presence of both — to act as the steward for thatparticular gift.b) The donor gives the gift to the lay person who is normally the bhikkhu'ssteward or is on familiar terms with the bhikkhu, but does not inform thebhikkhu or have him informed of the fact.According to the Commentary, this training rule covers only cases of the first sort —the steward is indicated by the bhikkhu — but not of the other two. This, however, isa controversial point. To understand the controversy, though, we will first have todiscuss the protocols for accepting funds and obtaining requisites from stewards asset forth in this rule. Then we will revisit this issue in the section, "range ofapplication," below.The protocol in accepting. The Vibhaṅga gives the following guidelines:If donors offer money, they are to be told that bhikkhus do not accept money.174