Offense of Stealing Others' Five Jewels

Original text from Section 2 of the Upāsaka Five Precepts Sutra: If a householder knows that another possesses the five treasures, or items resembling the five treasures, and with a thieving mind selects them but has not yet removed them from their original location, he commits a redeemable offense. If, after selecting them, he takes them away from their original location and their value equals or exceeds five masha, he commits an unredeemable offense. "Removed from the original location" means: If the treasures are placed on woven fabric, a change in the weaving thread constitutes a different location. If placed on leather or clothing, one color is one location; a different color is a different location. If placed on leather garments, one color is one location; a different color is a different location. If placed on a woolen mattress, one layer of wool is one location; one color is one location; a different color is a different location. These are the distinctions for various locations.

Explanation: If a householder knows that another possesses the five treasures of gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin, or items resembling the five treasures, and with a thieving mind selects them but has not yet removed the items from their original location, he commits a redeemable offense. If, after selecting the items, he removes them from their original location and their value reaches five masha or more, he commits an unredeemable offense. The term "removed from the original location" refers to: If the treasures are placed on woven fabric, a change in the weaving thread means the treasures have left the original weaving thread, equating to removal from the original location. If placed on leather or clothing, one color is one location; a change to a different color means removal from the original location. If placed on garments made of fur, one color of the garment is one location; a change to a different color means removal from the original location. If placed on a mattress made of hair, one layer of hair is one location; one color is one location; a change to a different color constitutes a different location. These are the distinctions for various locations.

Original text: If a householder carries goods for another and with a thieving mind shifts them from the left shoulder to the right shoulder, or from the right hand to the left hand, such bodily divisions are called different locations. For a cart, the wheels, axle, yoke pole, and yoke are different locations. For a boat, the two sides (gunwales) and the front/rear sections are different locations. For a house, the beams, ridgepoles, rafters, purlins, the four corners, and the inner rooms are all different locations. If one moves an item with a thieving mind and places it in any of these different locations, he commits an unredeemable offense.

Explanation: If a householder carries goods for another on his shoulders and with a thieving mind shifts the goods from the left shoulder to the right shoulder, or from the right hand to the left hand, this constitutes different locations on the body. For a cart, the wheels, axle, yoke pole, and yoke are different locations. For a boat, the two sides and the front/rear sections are different locations. For a house, the beams, ridgepoles, rafters, the four corners, and the inner rooms are all different locations. If one moves an item with a thieving mind and places it in any of these different locations, he commits an unredeemable offense.

Original text: Regarding stealing objects in water: If timber or logs cut by someone are floating downstream, and a householder takes them with a thieving mind, he commits an unredeemable offense. If, with a thieving mind, he stops the timber from floating, causes it to drift further downstream, or with a thieving mind submerges it to the bottom, or lifts it out of the water, he commits an unredeemable offense in all these cases.

Explanation: Regarding the case of stealing objects in water: If someone has cut timber that is floating downstream, and a householder takes it with a thieving mind, he commits an unredeemable offense. If with a thieving mind he stops the timber, then causes it to drift further downstream, or with a thieving mind sinks the timber to the bottom, or lifts it out of the water, he commits an unredeemable offense in all these cases.