I gave money to the monk and some layman of monastery via internet because I didn't know that it's prohibited. Will I get demerit? Should I ask money back to redirect them in the right way? Thank you.

I have bought in my life many works written by the Dalai Lama. I know that as a monk, he forgoes material possessions. Yet, I recognize money is still being made with those texts, from the editors and publishers and so on. Am I to understand that it would only be wrong to sell such texts if the author gained money directly? What considerations are involved in the sale and publication of dhamma-related works?

Good evening everyone. I am a newcomer to buddhism, although i have been reflecting on and practicing many concepts very much ressembling to buddhism for a decade. I understand that monks and nuns need to make a living, however it seems to be a tendency to ask for money during teachings. As someone who grown up around christians, i am used to giving money on a volunteer basis but i might just be totally wrong about this. Of course there are always expenses and it is normal that we participate. I am however very sceptical when people ask for too much money, especially when they are supposed to teach us. In my life, i have encountered greed many times, and i have been acting with greed in my mind on several occasions. It took me a few years to understand it was wrong and i don't consider myself so greedy anymore. Retreats are also extremely expensive in some monasteries. I am however far from a saint and still an outsider to buddhism in general, so my words might be missplaced. It is my belief that money is indeed the root of all evil as some christians like to say. It tooks me years to realize it. So what do you think about paying for teachings, retreats, etc? Is this common practice in buddhism?

In recent years in "Western" culture, teachings derived from Buddhist practices have been increasingly common. These teachings are often of a secular nature and are about compassion, meditation and mindfulness. However, some of them expressly bring out teachings about dharma, dukha, metta, etc. Some of these teachers charge significant sums for retreats, which may have dozens or even hundreds of people attend. It's obvious that a lot of money is being made. While I don't begrudge someone making a living - even a comfortable one - in a few cases, I know that these teachers are living very well: driving expensive cars, living in the most expensive neighborhoods/suburbs of their cities, etc. Am I misunderstanding something, or does this go against the Buddha's teachings? Edit: For clarity's sake, let me elaborate on the type of teacher I'm discussing. I'm NOT referring a monastery charging a fee to cover operating costs for retreats, classes, etc. What I'm asking about are people who have best selling books, charge $100 for 1 day retreats with 100 people attending, and who have observable significant wealth in that they live in neighborhoods where the houses cost millions of dollars and drive cars that are a hundred thousand dollars or more.

Last year ,I lent a friend alot of money ,he convinced me that he lost his wallet and needed money for certain payment,promising that he will return it after 3 month,he payed some of it then delayed it to the next year and now he tells me to forget about it till he can return it. Now there is a feeling of regret not only because of the money which ,I Lent in expectation of getting it back but also because the friendship got affected . Feeling that he is a liar made me think , I should've been mindful of the deception.As well as not having any compassion for him. What should be done right now according to Buddhism?.

Is dana (or has it ever been) considered taxable in some countries?

I was walking through a Taipei grocery/department store a few years ago and saw shelves with packs of "paper money" or joss paper to be used for burning. For the bank-note varieties were three choices; New Taiwan dollars, Chinese RMB, and US dollars. The way different people approach the subject here is quite varied, from very serious to quite light-hearted. My question is not really about the origin of the practice as much as it is about its "paper trail". Are there historical buddhist writings that lay out the importance of burning paper money and its efficacy? Or is it more of an unwritten tradition?

I have a tendency to take up many job opportunities for the sake of earning money beyond what is necessary. Can working too much for monetary gain be considered a form of indulgence that leads to the development of greed? Sutta or other textual references are appreciated.

(This may be more of a philosophy stack exchange question; feel free to move it. Actually, the example I give below is probably off topic or something since it's the real meat and potatoes of the question: money.) In general, where does Buddhism and the philosophy of effective altruism split, when one spends all their time Earning to Give ? (Again this question assumes many things, a chat would greatly be appreciated.) While reading *The Middle Way* by the Dalai Lama (give as a gift) this question keeps surfacing. In the book is says, "the aspiration to bring about **others' welfare** and the aspirations to **seek buddhahood for this purpose**." Maybe I'm misdefining the translation of "welfare"...but this point will come up again and again when reading about Dharma anyway. Please help answer the essential question, and not the details of this specific quote. It is arbitrary for the main game. Perhaps what I mean is better though an example: Somehow assume that a person has this extraordinary altruistic resolve, or even bodhicitta (if that's close to correct). And they decide to spend much time Earning to Give. Let's assume they work 16 hour days (from one job being professional, such as an electrical engineer, and a second in a similar job or a factory job--six days a week). Try to also assume they get enough sleep (7.5 hours), stay hygienic (taking a shower during a break at the factory), manage to eat bagged lunch, and everything else to spend virtually no money on unnecessary expenses such as rent (by sleeping in a van near both companies). And so, after all that, there is no time to meditate. Literally, every waking hour is spent Earning to Give. How on earth can this person seek buddhahood?! And wouldn't others' welfare be all what this person lives for anyway? (Additionally, since this question is seeped in money, also assume that 'Robin Hood tactics' are not a means to Earning to Give...)

What's the history behind this? I am assuming non-Theravada monks eat after noon, and use money. Correct me if I'm wrong. If I'm not wrong, why do the sects differ in this manner?

Is it right for a monastery or a temple to take money donations, having donation boxes and selling a lot of different things to worship or get luck from? Or shouldn't a monastery use money just like the monks? I feel if I want to give to a monastery is better to give food to the monks, give the things they need not the money so they can get it themself.