VII. The Offense of Stealing the Property of the Three Jewels

Within a monastery, regardless of whether any item is currently in use, lay practitioners should never appropriate or remove anything without authorization. All possessions within a monastery belong to the Sangha of the ten directions, including monastics from worlds beyond the Saha World. Monastics from the ten-direction worlds all have the right to use these items. When an individual takes such items, they are stealing the property of monastics from the ten-direction worlds—a debt fundamentally impossible to repay. This offense constitutes karma leading to the hell realms, even to the Avici Hell.

The offerings from the ten directions refer to offerings from beings in the ten directions: east, south, west, north, above, below, southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest. The property of the Sangha of the ten directions belongs to monastics of worlds in these ten directions. Worlds vary in size; large worlds refer to the Buddha-lands in the ten directions surrounding the Saha World, while small worlds refer to worlds within the ten directions of the Saha World itself. For example, a small world within the trichiliocosm of the Saha World comprises the Four Continents, Four Great Oceans, Seven Golden Mountains, the Heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings, Trayastrimsa Heaven, Tusita Heaven, Yama Heaven, Nirmanarati Heaven, Parinirmita-vasavartin Heaven, and the First Dhyana Heaven. One thousand small worlds form a medium chiliocosm, and one thousand medium chiliocosms form a great chiliocosm (trichiliocosm).

Anyone who commits this offense must repent earnestly and profoundly before the Buddha until auspicious signs appear; only then can the offense of stealing the Three Jewels' property be eradicated. For instance: the Buddha may touch one’s head to offer comfort, indicating the offense is purified; or one may see lotuses blooming, smell fragrant scents in the air, or receive blessings from Buddhas or Bodhisattvas. Otherwise, the offense remains, and upon death, one will fall into hell to receive retribution.

Intentionally or unintentionally wasting monastery property—thus depleting the property of the Sangha of the ten directions—is also a significant offense. The debt owed to the Sangha of the ten directions is not easily repaid. Therefore, everyone in a monastery should practice frugality and avoid waste. Damaged items must be compensated for immediately. Delayed compensation requires doubling or even multiple times the original value. As stated in the Vinaya, if one commits an offense and fails to repent, after one night the offense doubles; after two nights, it doubles again (becoming fourfold). The same applies to debts owed to the Three Jewels—they double overnight. Anyone who has ever privately taken any monastery item, damaged property, or wasted resources—including water, electricity, gas, etc.—must seek ways to make amends and offer compensation. For acts constituting theft, not only must restitution be made, but one must also strive daily to repent earnestly and profoundly, aiming to witness auspicious signs. To eliminate negative karma and avoid or lessen retribution, one must practice repentance and provide remedial compensation through material means.

Everyone, whether at home, in the workplace, in a monastery, or in any public setting, must be clear about the ownership of all items. Do not infringe upon the rights of the owner; always ask the owner before using anything. This includes respecting the rights of family members—do not violate or infringe upon the property rights of one’s parents, children, or spouse. This is the cultivation and virtue of being a person. Living purely inevitably yields pure karmic results.

If items like Buddhist scriptures are intentionally placed in certain areas of a monastery for free distribution, they may be taken freely without notifying the monastery’s management. Some items are managed by specific personnel; if one wishes to use them, permission must be obtained from those designated individuals. If someone is not the designated manager, even their permission is invalid, and taking the item constitutes theft. One must ascertain whether a person has the authority and responsibility; obtaining casual permission from anyone is insufficient.

Some lay practitioners visit monasteries and presume to take charge on behalf of the monastics, regardless of whether the monastics consent or permit it. They seize all authority, making decisions arbitrarily as if in their own home—not only managing affairs but also controlling finances and even people. This offense is extremely grave; whether it can be purified through repentance is uncertain.

Some even attempt to manage the monastics themselves, dictating what monastics should or should not do, directing them to fulfill their own desires and wishes. This constitutes insubordination against superiors and contempt for the dignity of the Three Jewels. Monastics are not subject to the management or direction of any layperson. Only a monastic’s own teacher, the abbot of the monastery, or designated monastic administrators have the authority to manage them. Monastics are primarily guided and managed by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions; even local deities and Dharma protectors lack the qualification and authority, as monastics are direct disciples of the Buddha, not disciples of the Dharma protectors. Monastics may only pay homage to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, not to Dharma protectors. Therefore, if laypeople harbor excessive desire for control, they must strive to restrain themselves. If restraint proves impossible, they should stay away from monasteries and monastics to avoid creating hellish karma and suffering hellish retribution.

Some laypeople enjoy wearing monastic robes or using monastic names. Others impersonate monastics to receive reverence and various offerings—this is grand theft among thefts. Still other lay practitioners insist on claiming, "We are also part of the Three Jewels," demanding the same treatment as the Three Jewels, thereby infringing upon the reputation and dignity of the Three Jewels. The impact is exceedingly negative. This constitutes great greed and grand theft; it is beyond repentance. Repentance is of little use, and such individuals will still report to the hell realms.