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

Section Two of the Upāsaka Śīla Sūtra, Original Text:

The Buddha told the Bhikṣus: "An upāsaka who takes another's valuable property by three methods commits an unpardonable offense. First, by using the mind. Second, by using the body. Third, by removing it from its original location. 'Using the mind' means generating the thought and contemplating theft. 'Using the body' means using bodily parts to take another's property. 'Removing it from its original location' means lifting the object from where it was and placing it elsewhere."

Explanation:

The Buddha told the Bhikṣus: "An upāsaka who acquires another's relatively valuable property by three methods commits an unpardonable offense. First, taking another's property using the mind. Second, taking another's property using the body. Third, causing the property to leave its original position. 'Taking using the mind' means arising in thought, contemplating the desire to steal. 'Taking using the body' means using bodily limbs and so forth to acquire another's property. 'Leaving the original location' means moving the property from its original place to another location."

Original Text:

"Furthermore, there are three ways of taking another's valuable property, 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 lifting it away from its original location with one's own hand. 'Instructing another to take it' means if an upāsaka instructs a person, saying, 'Steal his property,' and that person takes it according to his own will, then when the object is removed from its original location [the upāsaka commits the offense]. 'Sending an envoy' means telling the envoy, 'Do you know the location of that valuable property?' The envoy replies that he knows the location, and is then sent to steal it. When that person, following the instruction, takes it and removes it from its original location [the upāsaka commits the offense]."

Explanation:

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

Original Text:

"Furthermore, there are five ways of taking another's valuable property, committing an unpardonable offense. First, taking by distressing [the owner]. Second, taking contemptuously. Third, taking by falsely using another's name. Fourth, taking by force. Fifth, taking by accepting something entrusted [and not returning it]. 'Valuable property' means either five masha [an ancient unit of weight/currency] or property worth five masha. Committing [theft of such] constitutes an unpardonable offense."

Explanation:

"Furthermore, there are five ways of stealing another's valuable property, committing an unpardonable offense. First, taking by feigning distress, suffering, old age, weakness, sickness, or disability to deceive and obtain it. Second, taking by relying on authority or power, looking down from a high position, with a contemptuous mind. Third, taking by falsely claiming another's name to deceive and obtain it. Fourth, taking by using force to seize it. Fifth, taking by failing to return property accepted for safekeeping, thereby deceiving to obtain it. If the valuable property is worth five masha, or is other property worth five masha, reaching this standard constitutes an unpardonable offense."