The Sin of Stealing Others' Five Treasures

Original text of the Sūtra on the Precepts for Upāsakas, Section Two: 若居士知他有五宝。若似五宝。以偷心选择而未离处。犯可悔罪。若选择已。取离本处。直五钱者。犯不可悔。离本处者。若织物异绳。名异处。若皮若衣。一色名一处。异色名异处。若皮衣物。一色名一处。异色名异处。若毛褥者。一重毛名一处。一色名一处。异色名异处。是名诸处。

Explanation: If a layman knows that another person possesses the five treasures—gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin—or property similar to the five treasures, and with a thieving mind has selected it but has not yet moved it away from its original place, he commits a redeemable offense. If he has selected the property and moved it away from its original place, and its value reaches five coins or more, he commits an irredeemable offense. What is meant by "moving away from the original place" is this: if the five treasures are placed on woven fabric, and the weaving cords of the fabric are changed, the five treasures leaving the original weaving cords is equivalent to leaving the original place. If the five treasures are placed on leather or clothing, one color constitutes one place; changing to a different color means leaving the original place. If they are placed on garments made of leather, one color of the garment constitutes one place, and changing to a different color means leaving the original place. If they are placed on a mattress made of hair, one layer of hair constitutes one place, and one color constitutes one place; changing the color means a different place. These are the distinctions among the various places.

Original text: 居士为他担物。以盗心移左肩着右肩。移右手着左手。如是身分。名为异处。车则轮轴衡轭。船则两舷前后。屋则梁栋。椽桷四隅及隩。皆名异处。以盗心移物。着诸异处者。皆犯不可悔。

Explanation: If a layman carries items on his shoulders for another person, and with a thieving mind moves the items from the left shoulder to the right shoulder, or from the right hand to the left hand—such different parts of the body are called "different places." In the case of a cart, the wheel, axle, yoke-pole, and yoke are different places; in the case of a boat, the two sides and the front and rear are different places; in the case of a house, the beams, the rafters, the four corners, and the inner rooms are all different places. If one moves items with a thieving mind and places them in various different places, one commits an irredeemable offense in every case.

Original text: 盗水中物者。人筏材木随水流下。居士以盗心取者。犯不可悔。若以盗心捉木令住。后流至前际。及以盗心沉着水底。若举离水时。皆犯不可悔。

Explanation: Regarding the theft of objects in the water: if someone's raft of timber floats downstream, and a layman takes it with a thieving mind, he commits an irredeemable offense. If, with a thieving mind, he seizes the timber and holds it in place, then lets it float down to the front edge; or if, with a thieving mind, he sinks the timber to the bottom of the water; or if, with a thieving mind, he lifts it out of the water—in all these cases he commits an irredeemable offense.