IS IT APPROPRIATE TO USE OUR PARENTS’ MONEY TO PERFORM MERITORIOUS ACT WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT?
Caller: The parents of a fellow Buddhist practitioner are in poor health. With the savings passbook that the parents entrusted to him, he will withdraw and send money to his parents regularly. Whenever he withdraws money for his parents, he will use a portion of the amount to perform life liberation and print the sutra booklets for his parents.
His parents have yet to practise Buddhism and hence, they are unaware that he has been using their money to perform the meritorious acts for them. Is it appropriate for him to do so?
Master Jun Hong Lu: He should at least inform his parents especially if his parents have no objection to him practising Buddhism, unless they disapprove of his practice. That said, it is fundamentally inappropriate to take his parents’ money without their knowledge as the money belongs to them. By doing so, he is considered to have violated the precept of ‘no stealing’.
In this case, as his parents are unaware, and even if he uses the money to perform life liberation, it is still regarded as an act of theft. This is because you do it without the person’s knowledge and he is the rightful owner of the money. Hence, it is wrong to do so unless his parents object to what he does.
When the money is withdrawn for life liberation without his parents’ knowledge, he must put forth this prayer to Guan Yin Bodhisattva, “I have withdrawn <how much money> from my parents’ account to perform life liberation on their behalf today”.
In the absence of such prayer and he is mum about it, he will be committing the act of stealing. This is serious and would have ensuing karmic consequences. The best solution is to be frank to his parents, “Mum and dad, when I withdraw money for you, I will use a portion of it to perform life liberation, which is meant to help support and extend your longevity. Do you agree?”
If they disagree, you may say your prayer to Guan Yin Bodhisattva privately. However, you are not allowed to use even a penny of it for your own use. Understand?
Caller: Yes, I do.
Master Jun Hong Lu: For example, after withdrawing $100, you spend $50 on life liberation and keep the balance for your own use. This is considered a serious act of stealing.
Source: Wenda20161125 05:01, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
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