BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 1There are two factors for an offense here: object and effort.Object. The Vibhaṅga defines money in the same terms it uses to define gold andsilver in the preceding rule: any type of gold, whether shaped into an ornament ornot; and any coins or other items used as currency.Effort. The Vibhaṅga's description of the kind of exchange covered by this rulediffers from that given in the Commentary, so they are best discussed separately.The Vibhaṅga's interpretation. Monetary exchange refers primarily to the type ofbusiness and speculation a gold dealer would engage in — exchanging currency,trading gold ore for gold shaped into ornaments or vice versa, trading gold ore forgold ore, or gold ornaments for gold ornaments — but the Vibhaṅga's discussion ofthe factor of perception shows that the factor of effort here includes any exchangein which the bhikkhu ends up with gold or money as a result of the exchange. Thusit would cover cases where a bhikkhu sells any kind of item — allowable orunallowable — for money.At first glance, this rule would seem redundant with the preceding rule againstreceiving money and the following rule against engaging in trade, but actually itcloses a number of loopholes in those rules. In the preceding rule, a bhikkhu maypoint out a steward to a person who brings money intended for him; and in thefollowing rule he can, if he words it right, propose a trade or tell a steward toarrange a trade for him. Thus, given just those two rules, it would be possible for abhikkhu using "proper" procedures to have his steward engage in currencyspeculation and other money-making activities without committing an offense.This rule, though, includes no such exceptions for "wording things right (kappiyavohāra),"and so closes those loopholes as far as this type of trading is concerned.As a result, a bhikkhu may not express a desire to his steward that he/she sellsomething belonging to him or take funds dedicated for his use and invest them formonetary return. If the bhikkhu is going abroad, he must leave it up to his stewardto figure out that any funds donated for his use may have to be exchanged forforeign currency if they are going to serve any purpose.Perception is not a factor here. Thus, when receiving gold or money, even if heperceives it as something else or is in doubt about the matter, he would still befulfilling the factor of effort. If, when receiving something other than gold or money,if he perceives it as gold or money or is in doubt about it, the penalty would be adukkaṭa.The Commentary's interpretation. According to the Commentary, monetary exchangerefers to any trade in which money is involved — whether as the item the bhikkhubrings into the trade, gets out of the trade, or both. Buddhaghosa states that thisinterpretation is based on a passage that is not in the Vibhaṅga but logically shouldbe. The Sub-commentary supports him, explaining that if monetary exchangecovers trades in which money forms one side of the trade, it shouldn't matter whichside of the trade it is on.196