BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

The Silk Chapter Chapter 7.2Forfeiture & confession. When a bhikkhu has obtained gold or money in violation ofthis rule he is to forfeit it in the midst of a formal meeting of the Community,following the procedures explained under the preceding rule. The Pali formulae forforfeiture and confession are in Appendix VI.Non-offenses. The Vibhaṅga's non-offense clauses contain nothing but the blanketexemptions mentioned under Pr 1.Summary: Obtaining gold or money through trade is a nissaggiya pācittiya offense.20. Should any bhikkhu engage in various types of trade, it (thearticle obtained) is to be forfeited and confessed."Now at that time Ven. Upananda the Sakyan had become accomplished at makingrobes. Having made an outer robe of cloak-scraps, having dyed it well and stitchedit nicely, he wore it. A certain wanderer, wearing a very expensive cloak, went to himand on arrival said to him, 'Your outer robe is beautiful, my friend. Give it to me inexchange for this cloak.'"'Do you know (what you're doing), my friend?'"'Yes, I know.'"'Okay, then.' And he gave him the robe."Then the wanderer went to the wanderers' park wearing the outer robe. The otherwanderers said to him, 'Your outer robe is beautiful, friend. Where did you get it?'"'I got it in exchange for my cloak.'"'But how long will this outer robe last you? That cloak of yours was better.'"So the wanderer, thinking, 'It's true what the wanderers said. How long will thisouter robe last me? That cloak of mine was better,' went to Ven. Upananda theSakyan and on arrival said, 'Here is your outer robe, my friend. Give me my cloak.'"'But didn't I ask you, "Do you know (what you're doing)?" I won't give it to you.'"So the wanderer criticized and complained and spread it about, 'Even ahouseholder will give to another householder who regrets (a trade). How can onewho has gone forth not give (the same courtesy) to one who has gone forth?'"As we noted under NP 10, one of the purposes of this rule is to relieve bhikkhus ofthe responsibilities that come with making trades — the responsibility of having toget a fair price for one's goods and at the same time offering a fair deal to theperson receiving them.199