Final answer:
In meditation 17, treasure is wealth that can be accumulated, while current money is the medium of exchange in its current form.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the meditation 17, the difference between treasure and current money lies in their nature and usage. Treasure refers to accumulated wealth, such as gold, silver, and valuable objects, that holds intrinsic value and can be stored for future use. On the other hand, current money refers to currency in circulation, such as coins and banknotes, which are used for day-to-day transactions and have no intrinsic worth.
For example, in the Song Dynasty, people would melt down coins to make Buddha images when copper was cheap, but when copper was expensive, they would melt the Buddhas to make coins. This exemplifies the fluid nature of current money in contrast to the long-term value of treasure.
Overall, treasure represents wealth that can be accumulated, while current money represents the medium of exchange in its current form.