user471: Receiving alms is definitely part of the monastic life.
Is begging for alms acceptable for lay persons?
Is begging for alms considered Right Livelihood for lay persons?
Is begging for alms considered skillful for lay persons, compared to earning their livelihood in accordance with the five precepts, principles of Right Livelihood and teachings of the Pali Canon (or other scriptures)? Or is it considered laziness?

user11009: I think begging is OK for a layperson as far as it is not practiced as a profession. The problem is begging has become a big business practiced as chrities.

user16297: IMO I don't see anything wrong with lay people who aren't monks or nuns, but are keeping 8 or 10 precepts and spending most of the their time in spiritual practice and asking for almsfood. I don't know that there's any institutional rules to give any answer to your satisfaction, but if it were me, I wouldn't be looking for an authority to give a blessing. It would just be a practical question. Is there somewhere I could live where I could do that? Maybe in a Buddhist country like Thailand or India. If people see you meditating all the time they probably would be happy to support you.

user-1: I don't see fault in begging. Some people are annoyed by it and i think that is worthy of consideration but it is generally an honest way to make a living as i see it.

user295: When one is observing Uposatha one is living on charity or donations of others.
Also in many traditional meditation centres which do not charge a fee, this is the case, as one is living on the donations or charity of others.
This is not as apparent or take the form like beggars seen in other situations, in modern settings. But essentially on is getting ones food through alms. The key here is that one is doing it to unburden oneself householder responsibilities and ego with a view to practice the Dharma, not mear sustenance.

user471: I will not accept my own answer to my own question.
But here I found a sutta which allows begging for alms by laypersons.
From SN 7.19:

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to
one side and said to the Buddha, “Master Gotama, I seek alms by
legitimate means, which I use to provide for my mother and father. In
doing so, am I doing my duty?”
“Indeed, brahmin, in so doing you are doing your duty. Whoever seeks
alms by legitimate means, and uses them to provide for their mother
and father makes much merit.
A mortal provides for their mother
and father by legitimate means;
because they look after
their parents like this,
they’re praised in this life by the astute,
and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”
When he said this, the brahmin who provided for his mother said to the
Buddha, “Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth,
may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for
refuge for life.”


user16733: I dont know how the word 'begging' came into Buddhism. BHIKSHA is a sanskrit word which translates nearly to Begging in Modern Indian social sense. But the word is rooted into Pali as the donation to Bhikku. This 'alms'(please dont consider the modern English meaning ) is not the result of begging. In the early era of Buddhism, the bhikkus/bhikkunis were Teachers/Gurus to the common men, and in return to their teaching / services to the Society ; their daily needs as Food / cloths were given as the form of donation. These kind of donations are utilized for the management of Dhamma Sanghas.
Later only, the Bhiksha word became derogatory due to the social religious changes in India. Donation is a main source of resources in major religions, Xianity for example, they run churches by donation. But in Buddhism, it not about begging / taking for granted. The Bhiksha we give to Bhikkus/Bhikkunis are the reward we offer to the teachers.
thank you

471: <p>Receiving alms is definitely part of the monastic life.</p>
<p>Is begging for alms acceptable for lay persons?</p>
<p>Is begging for alms considered Right Livelihood for lay persons?</p>
<p>Is begging for alms considered skillful for lay persons, compared to earning their livelihood in accordance with the five precepts, principles of Right Livelihood and teachings of the Pali Canon (or other scriptures)? Or is it considered laziness?</p>
 11009: <p>I think begging is OK for a layperson as far as it is not practiced as a profession. The problem is begging has become a big business practiced as chrities.</p>
 16297: <p>IMO I don't see anything wrong with lay people who aren't monks or nuns, but are keeping 8 or 10 precepts and spending most of the their time in spiritual practice and asking for almsfood. I don't know that there's any institutional rules to give any answer to your satisfaction, but if it were me, I wouldn't be looking for an authority to give a blessing. It would just be a practical question. Is there somewhere I could live where I could do that? Maybe in a Buddhist country like Thailand or India. If people see you meditating all the time they probably would be happy to support you.</p>
 -1: <p>I don't see fault in begging. Some people are annoyed by it and i think that is worthy of consideration but it is generally an honest way to make a living as i see it.</p>
 295: <p>When one is observing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uposatha" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Uposatha</a> one is living on charity or donations of others.</p>
<p>Also in many traditional meditation centres which do not charge a fee, this is the case, as one is living on the donations or charity of others.</p>
<p>This is not as apparent or take the form like beggars seen in other situations, in modern settings. But essentially on is getting ones food through alms. The key here is that one is doing it to unburden oneself householder responsibilities and ego with a view to practice the Dharma, not mear sustenance.</p>
 471: <p>I will not accept my own answer to my own question.</p>
<p>But here I found a sutta which allows begging for alms by laypersons.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn7.19/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 7.19</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to
one side and said to the Buddha, “Master Gotama, I seek alms by
legitimate means, which I use to provide for my mother and father. In
doing so, am I doing my duty?”</p>
<p>“Indeed, brahmin, in so doing you are doing your duty. Whoever seeks
alms by legitimate means, and uses them to provide for their mother
and father makes much merit.</p>
<p>A mortal provides for their mother<br />
and father by legitimate means;<br />
because they look after<br />
their parents like this,<br />
they’re praised in this life by the astute,<br />
and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”</p>
<p>When he said this, the brahmin who provided for his mother said to the
Buddha, “Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth,
may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for
refuge for life.”</p>
</blockquote>
 16733: <p>I dont know how the word 'begging' came into Buddhism. BHIKSHA is a sanskrit word which translates nearly to Begging in Modern Indian social sense. But the word is rooted into Pali as the donation to Bhikku. This 'alms'(please dont consider the modern English meaning ) is not the result of begging. In the early era of Buddhism, the bhikkus/bhikkunis were Teachers/Gurus to the common men, and in return to their teaching / services to the Society ; their daily needs as Food / cloths were given as the form of donation. These kind of donations are utilized for the management of Dhamma Sanghas.</p>
<p>Later only, the Bhiksha word became derogatory due to the social religious changes in India. Donation is a main source of resources in major religions, Xianity for example, they run churches by donation. But in Buddhism, it not about begging / taking for granted. The Bhiksha we give to Bhikkus/Bhikkunis are the reward we offer to the teachers.</p>
<p>thank you</p>
