Luang Pu Budda Thawaro
In Singapore, we often use red packets when we want to offer money as it seems more polite and appropriate. However, in Thailand, it is not actually uncommon to just offer money directly to monks. Many Singaporeans may be surprised when they see this for the first time, but they’ll get used to it.
Once, Luang Phor Sanong Katapunyo, the teacher of Ajaan Tippakorn and grandteacher of LP Jira, wanted to go pay respects to Luang Pu Budda Thawaro. As he arrived, he saw Luang Pu sitting down and unpacking the envelopes [of money] that his devotees had offered to him.
Luang Pu was arranging all the offerings together neatly. Luang Phor Sanong was not happy and thought in his mind, “It seems that Luang Pu Budda isn’t really that strict a practitioner. I wonder why my teacher [Luang Pu Sangwan] has so much admiration for him?”
As soon as he just finished thinking that thought, Luang Pu Budda called out to Luang Phor Sanong and asked him to come forward.
Then Luang Pu spoke, “Do you know how many monks who have handled money have gone to become Phra Arahants? Money is merely paper.
Newspaper is merely paper. If the heart does not cling to it, they are just papers. The Buddha forbade it for the sake of monks who do not understand this.”
After saying this, Luang Pu Budda stood up and walked away, leaving all the money lying there.
Luang Pu Budda Thawaro
Wat Klang Chu Sri, Singburi
26 July 2023
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