Stealing

  • Pr 2, Stealing
  • NP 25, Snatching back robe
  • Pc 59, Using cloth or bowl under shared ownership

Pr-2

Pr-2-Effort

Pr 2, Stealing

See the maps Pr 2 and Pr 2 -- Effort.

The ECM (Elder's Council Meeting) made a decision that items in the stores from ECM monasteries belong to all bhikkhus of the ECM monasteries, therefore a bhikkhu can't steal what is already theirs by agreement.

When carrying items, there is a difference in ownership whether the sender says 'this is his' or 'this is for him'.

Smuggling is pārājika (undeclared taxable items at customs).

Breaking a promise is dukkaṭa (not following software or website TOS (Terms of Service) or EULA (End User License Agreement)).

Borrowing an item has to imply that one is intending to return it.

Taking an item on trust:

  1. If the other has given explicit permission ('Whatever is mine, you are welcome to take and use it at any time.')
  2. Having known each other for a long time, having shared items in the past, one may understand that the other bhikkhu will be happy if one takes it.

Breaking an item (accidentally or intentionally) doesn't fulfil Effort. When accidentally breaking community property, it is good practice that a bhikkhu should try to replace it when they are given pavarana to ask.

NP 25, Snatching back robe-cloth

Object: a piece of robe-cloth, at least 4x8 fingerbreadth.

Perception: one still considers the robe as one's own, otherwise it could be pārājika.

Intention: impelled by anger or displeasure. Taking it on trust is not an offense.

Effort: snatching back or having someone to snatch it back.

Dukkaṭa for:

  • giving the command
  • other than cloth
  • snatching from a non-bhikkhu
  • hinting with anger

Non-offenses:

  • recipient returns the robe on his own accord
  • donor takes it back on trust
  • hinting without anger

Pc 59, Using cloth or bowl under shared ownership

Vikappana is an arrangement whereby a bhikkhu places robe or cloth under shared ownership so that it may be stored for any length of time.

While the shared ownership is in effect, none of the bhikkhus may use the item.

If the bhikkhu simply gives the robe back to the stores, he has given up ownership of it and another bhikkhu would be free to take it.

Vikappana allows a bhikkhu to determine a smaller saṅghāṭi while travelling, but not entirely giving up his regular saṅghāṭi.

Object: robe-cloth, min. 4x8 fingerbreadths, that one has placed under shared ownership.

Perception of ownership is not a factor.

Effort: using the cloth without the ownership being rescinded.

Non-offenses:

  • rescinded ownership
  • using it on trust (shared with friends)