The Crime of Usurping the Merits and Ranks of Sages and Virtuous Ones

Claiming realization without actual attainment constitutes a grave false speech and also involves the offense of stealing. This is because, in essence, nothing has been attained—there is no realization of the fruit or enlightenment of the mind—yet one claims to be a Stream-enterer, Once-returner, or Non-returner. Without having truly realized the true mind, one claims to be a Bodhisattva of the Abiding Stage, the Practice Stage, or the Dedication Stage, or even a Bodhisattva of the First or Second Ground. Appropriating the names, merits, and benefits that belong to genuine Bodhisattvas constitutes grand theft, for what is stolen is exceedingly sublime, and the offense is particularly grave. Many people disregard this matter, unaware of its exceptionally serious nature. They never bother to examine or check whether they possess the virtues, qualities, and mental attributes of sages and saints, yet they appropriate the names and attainments of these sages, thereby deceiving the world to gain fame, confusing right and wrong, undermining sentient beings' faith in sages, betraying their trust, and degrading the qualities of sages to the level of ordinary beings.

Deceiving the world to gain fame also includes situations where one is not first but claims to be first—this is stealing, stealing the reputation and merits of being first, along with the subsequent benefits. Not being second but claiming to be second is similarly stealing the reputation, merits, and benefits of second place. One should speak truthfully about what one is and what one has, and also speak truthfully about what one is not and what one does not have. Do not speak falsely; false speech is stealing.

Some people see others' belongings and think, "How nice it would be if that were mine." At that moment, the mind of stealing arises. Placing what belongs to others in one's own mind constitutes the mind of stealing, though the act has not yet manifested, so the offense of stealing is not yet complete. Some people, knowing that others have a good reputation, think, "I want to make use of that." At that moment, the mind of stealing arises. If one actually makes use of it, the precept against stealing is violated. For example, if you do something or say something in my name without my knowledge—and if I knew, I would not agree—yet you do it anyway, that is stealing.