Appropriating the fruits of others' labor is also theft.

There is another situation that constitutes stealing: when several people live and work together in the same environment, the affairs of that shared environment should be managed jointly by all of them, through division of labor and cooperation, so that only through shared labor can they enjoy the fruits of that labor. If one of them, over a long period, does not participate in the work yet enjoys the comfortable and clean environment, this constitutes stealing others' labor or the fruits of their labor. Among the bodhisattva precepts there is also one that says a bodhisattva may not watch others laboring while not participating, not helping, and not sharing the burden oneself. If one stands by with folded arms watching others work and leaves it unattended, one violates a light-defilement precept (śuddha-pārājika) of the bodhisattva precepts. The duty of a bodhisattva is to help others; if one not only does not help others, but also fails to contribute one's own share of what one ought to give, letting others bear it instead, then one has failed in the bodhisattva's duty and violated a light-defilement precept.

When eating at a buffet restaurant, if one clearly knows one cannot finish eating yet still piles up that much food, the portion one cannot finish constitutes stealing. Our books charge only postage, not the price of the books themselves. If a person travels on business everywhere throughout the year, and at each place, for convenience, throws the books away before leaving, then requests for free the books needed at the next place—because the books are cheap to obtain and do not cost much money—the portion thrown away constitutes stealing the property of the Three Jewels, and this offense is grave.

If one sees an object and involuntarily gives rise to a thought of stealing, wanting to take it as one's own, but then immediately becomes aware that the present action is stealing, terminates the action, and leaves, how should the offense in such a case be determined? Having only a mental thought, without bodily action or verbal action, one commits a lesser offense that can be repented of. If one regrets before any action has taken place, one does not violate the precepts.