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Comment by michael_dorfman | Hacker News Reader

Most Buddhist monks could easily get under the "15 things" limit-- the standard list of possessions is: three robes, an alms bowl, a cloth belt, a needle and thread, a razor for shaving the head, and a water filter.

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And a dog just needs a stick. I don't think it's about competition.

Also, they have all other things provided for them without actually owning them.

that's pretty good. source? with a wish-list like that what do they need alms for? I couldn't live without a toothbrush though.

The money they are given probably helps buy food, since not even the magical Buddhist monks can survive without at least a little rice.

Actually, according to the Buddhist monastic code they aren't allowed to have money. I know a very large number (probably the majority) of monks these days do accept money but I know of and have lived with those that don't. In the communities that respect the Vinaya[1] there are 227 rules that fully ordained monks are supposed to follow. Novices have ten rules[2] and one of them is not to handle money.

[1]http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc1/b...

[2]http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/dasasila.html

Well I guess that's what I get for jumping to the conclusion that alms = money.

The list mentioned is repeated here: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/ariyesako/layguid...

I've heard this list other places too but don't have a source. The four requisites mentioned on that page are what I typically think of.

toothpaste and toothbrush are definitely medical then, as a dentist definitely is in the field of medicine, and if you don't use them your teeth rot and fall out. oral-B is definitely a medical brand. "warding off disease" simply and clearly covers this, then. Thanks for the informative link.

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