護僧的基本認知（三）
開仁法師著
二丶四事之供養
在佛之時代，出家眾獲得的供養，只是四種資具：衣服丶食物丶床座及醫藥。且還不得有為私欲與活命而受用供養，因為比丘其中之一義即是乞士，不得再為活命而浪費生命，應以修道為首要任務。
身為在家眾，若要供養出家者，應該先大約請示其需要，才作適當的佈施。但是，這又並非要出家眾列出清單，因為如此又違反其戒律精神了。南傳佛教國家對於這種精神，依然保留至現在，甚至連金錢亦能不碰觸；這和北傳佛教的傳承與特色，有某些距離，但這並不就等於背離了佛陀的根本精神，隨方毗尼的拿捏，各有各的依據與背景，不能草率下定論。
站在護持僧眾解脫的觀點來看，佈施者應該要以成就修道資糧（除食衣住行的供養外，補助弘化教育等的供養，亦應視為同等重要）為先。
由於時代的進步，供養也顯得多采多姿了。出家眾為弘法利生，也不得不興辦學校丶從事雜誌丶電腦布教等，背後的目的當然是純潔的。如此下來，出家人的需要自然會比以前的人來得多，北傳的化區，由於從事各方面的事業，故善用金錢來推行活動，成了不可或缺的事實。也因為這樣，出家人除了以上所言之四種資具外，信眾也可以就其本身之需求，而提供如法與適當的供養。
但是，有一點也必須小心的就是，這不意味出家眾就可以為所欲為，居家者亦非盲目地滿足其需求即便罷事，因為這種無限制的供養，會造致很多弊端。第一丶出家眾因此不能安心辦道，反而生起不必要的染著；第二丶浪費金錢，又不能達到弘化利生的功效。這些都屬於無智的供養，擾亂了僧眾的法身慧命，亦達不到清淨佈施的功德。
The Fundamental Knowledge in Safeguarding the Sangha Members（三）
By Ven Kai Ren
2. The four offerings for a monk
During the Buddha’s time, members of the Sangha received only 4 types of dana: clothes, food, bed, and medicine. They must not receive dana to satisfy personal craving or just to prolong one’s life. One of the meaning of Bikkhu is a beggar who should not live to waste his life, his primary mission is to practice the Dharma.
As lay persons, if we wish to provide for monastics, we should first roughly get an idea what are their requirements, then only we donate appropriately. But, this does not mean we ask the monastics to list down, as this is against the spirit of precepts. Theravada maintains such practice until today, they do not even touch money. This is quite different from the characteristics of Mahayana. This does not that Mahayana practices are against the basic spirit of the Buddha. Each tradition / order has its background and basis, we cannot jump to conclusion.
From the stand point of supporting monastics’ liberation, donors should give priority to matters which contribute to monastics’ Dharma practice. Apart from basic needs, donating towards Dharma education is considered as equally important.
As time goes by, the types of dana also become more colorful. In order to propagate the Dharma to benefit the general public, members of the Sangha have to build schools, publish magazines and use computers. Their objectives in doing so are pure. However, as a result, their requirements differ from those in the past. As Mahayana monastics are involved in various fields of activities, it is a fact that they need money in order to undertake these activities. Therefore, apart from the 4 types of dana mentioned above, lay persons should also provide appropriate donations in accordance to the needs of monastics.
One point needs to be emphasized. This does not imply monastics can act according to their whims and fancies. Lay persons must not blindly satisfy the requirements of monastics as this will create many problems. First, monastics may not be able to practice the Dharma peacefully as the unlimited dana may give rise to unnecessary attachment. Second, it is a waste of money and cannot achieve the objective of propagating the Dharma to benefit the general public. Unwise provisions will disturb monastics’ purity and will not bring about any merits.
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