Cheques, Credit Cards and Other ‘Potential Money’
This nissaggiya pacittiya concerns gold or money where money (rajata) is that which
is used for buying and selling (ye vohara7 gacchanti). Cheques, credit cards and
travellers cheques are not the same as money. Money, in the context of this rule, is
something which is commonly negotiable, something that one can take in to almost
any shop and, without any further ‘ink-work’ or paperwork, exchange it for whatever
one desires. Cheques, completed or blank, credit cards and travellers cheques do not
fit into the category. For example:
A completed cheque, such as one made out to British Airways say, is not negotiable for it can only be used to purchase something from the payee, British Airways – it is no different than a postage stamp which is used to purchase the passage of a letter from the postal authorities. Even when a completed cheque is made out in one’s own name, or to cash, it is still not commonly negotiable – it has to be taken into a bank and exchanged for money first before it can be of use.
A cheque which is not fully completed is also not negotiable as it stands – a blank cheque is like a steward, you can take both into a shop but you can only obtain what you desire after filling out the cheque or instructing the steward. A credit
card is similar to a blank cheque: you still have to send out an instruction to the bank in order to purchase an item. Travellers cheques are also different from money because, in most countries, they cannot simply be taken into a shop and traded for an article, but they have to be cashed at an authorized office or bank first.
Cheques, credit cards, travellers cheques and things similar are ‘potential money’ but, because they are not commonly negotiable as they stand, they fall short of being ‘gold or money’ (jararuparajata). Thus there is no offence for receiving any of these things under this rule. However, a monk who cashes a cheque or a travellers cheque would incur an offence under nissaggiya pacittiya, a monk who buys an item using a cheque or credit card drawing on his own account incurs an offence under nissaggiya pacittiya, and a monk who fills out a cheque drawing on a Personal Fund or on a
Sangha Fund incurs a dukkata for ‘commanding’ the Fund (VA 698).
Kelihatannya menerima kartu kredit / check tidak bermasalah, tetapi bila menggunakan akan melanggar.
Diambil dari Catatan Vinaya Ajahn Brahmavamso, salah seorang Bhikkhu yang terkenal akan ketatnya pelaksanaan Vinayanya.
Checks, Credit Cards, etc. [go up]
º Under modern conditions things other than cash also have to be considered. What about bhikkhus using checks or even postage stamps or 'phone cards'?104 What is included in the rule and where does one draw the line? Different communities will understand these rules in slightly different ways — although probably all will find ordinary postage stamps acceptable! It seems that although credit cards and checks do not quite function in the same way as cash and therefore may not break that rule about accepting money (Nis. Paac. 18), they would still fall under another offence. (See below: Buying and Selling and Barter or Trade.) Some modern opinions:
"At present the term ['gold and silver'] would include coins and paper currency, but not checks, credit cards, bank drafts, or promissory notes, as these — on their own and without further identification of the persons carrying them — do not function as true currency." (BMC p.215)
"Checks, credit cards and travelers checks are not the same as money because [they are not] commonly negotiable, something that one can take into almost any shop and, without any further 'ink-work' or paperwork, exchange it for whatever one desires....[therefore] there is no offence for receiving or holding these things. However, using checks, credit cards and travelers checks or things similar would come under 'buying and selling' and the offences listed under [Confession with Forfeiture] 19 and 20 would be likely to arise." (AB)
"The offence [Nis. Paac. 20] is committed when the bhikkhu hands the signed credit card receipt — or has it handed — to the seller..." (BMC p.230)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/ariyesako/layguide.html#cardsDi referensi lain kelihatannya setuju kalau menerima tidak masalah, tetapi lain halnya dengan menggunakan.
Topic: Bhikku Vinaya : Perihal Uang (Read 26599 times)