The Crime of Stealing Another Person's Property of Considerable Value

Original text from Section Two of the Sutra on the Five Precepts for Laymen: The Buddha told the bhikkhus: A layman (upāsaka) who takes another's valuable item in three ways commits an unpardonable offense. First, by using the mind. Second, by using the body. Third, by removing the item from its original place. Using the mind means: arousing the thought and contemplating theft. Using the body means: using limbs or body parts to take another's property. Removing from the original place means: wherever the item is located, lifting it and placing it elsewhere.

Explanation: The Buddha told the bhikkhus: A layman who acquires another's relatively valuable item through three methods commits an unpardonable offense. First, acquiring another's property using the mind. Second, acquiring another's property using the body. Third, the item leaving its original position. Acquiring using the mind means: giving rise to the thought and contemplating the desire to steal. Acquiring using the body means: using limbs or parts of the body to obtain another's property. Removing from the original place means: moving the item from its original location to another place.

Original text: Furthermore, there are three ways of taking another's valuable item, committing an unpardonable offense. First, taking it oneself. Second, instructing another to take it. Third, sending an envoy to take it. Taking it oneself means: personally lifting it with one's own hand, removing it from its original place. Instructing another to take it means: if a layman instructs someone, saying, "Steal his property," and that person takes it according to his own will, when the item is removed from its original place. Sending an envoy means: telling the envoy, "Do you know where that valuable item is?" He replies, "I know the place." Then he is sent to steal it. When that person, following the instruction, takes it and removes it from its original place.

Explanation: Furthermore, there are three ways of taking another's valuable item, committing an unpardonable offense. First, taking it oneself. Second, instructing another to take it. Third, sending someone else to take it on one's behalf. Taking it personally oneself means: using one's own hand to lift the item away from its original location. Instructing another to take it means: if a layman instructs someone, saying, "Go steal his property," and the instructed person takes it according to his own will, when the item leaves its original location, it is considered theft. Sending someone to take it on one's behalf means: saying to the sent person, "Do you know where that valuable item is?" The sent person says he knows, and is then sent to steal it. When that person, obeying the instruction, takes the item into his hands, causing it to leave its original location, he commits the offense of theft.

Original text: Furthermore, there are five ways of taking another's valuable item, committing an unpardonable offense. First, taking by pretending to be suffering. Second, taking with contempt. Third, taking by falsely using another's name. Fourth, taking by force. Fifth, taking by keeping entrusted property. A valuable item means: if it is five masha coins, or an item worth five masha coins, one commits an unpardonable offense.

Explanation: Furthermore, there are five ways of stealing another's valuable item, committing an unpardonable offense. First, pretending to be pitiful, suffering, old, weak, sick, or disabled to deceive and take. Second, taking with an attitude of authority, power, looking down from a superior position, harboring a contemptuous mind. Third, deceitfully using another's name to fraudulently obtain. Fourth, taking by using force or coercion. Fifth, failing to return an item entrusted by another and thereby fraudulently taking it. If the valuable item is worth five masha, or if it is another item valued at five masha, reaching this standard constitutes an unpardonable offense.