Ajahn Jayasaro: "I am so afraid to touch money. I stay away from it. I am afraid to go to hell." อาตมากลัวที่สุดเรื่องการจับเงิน ขออยู่ให้ห่าง เพราะกลัวตกนรก"
Although the Vinaya specifies a prohibition on accepting and handling gold and silver, the real spirit of it is to forbid use and control over funds, whether these are bank notes or credit cards. The Vinaya even prohibits a monk from having someone else receive money on his behalf.
The principles of mendicancy forbid a monk from asking for anything (except for food when he is ill). If a layperson wishes to give something (requisites) to a particular monk, but is uncertain what he needs, he should make an invitation. Any financial donations should not be to a monk but to the stewards of the monastery, perhaps mentioning if it's for a particular item or for the needs of a certain monk.
For items such as travelling expenses, money can be given to an accompanying anagarika (dressed in white) or accompanying layperson to handle. It is quite a good exercise in mindfulness for a layperson to actually consider what items are necessary and offer those rather than money.
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