Appropriating the fruits of another's labor also constitutes stealing

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 together. If one of them, over a long period, does not participate in the work yet enjoys the comfortable and clean environment, this constitutes stealing the labor—or the fruits of the labor—of the others. 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 himself. If one stands by with folded arms watching others work and looks on without lifting a finger, one commits a light-defilement precept (light offense) of the bodhisattva precepts. The duty of a bodhisattva is to help others; if one not only fails to help others, but also fails to give one's own due share of effort, letting others bear it instead, then one has forfeited the duty of a bodhisattva and commits a light-defilement precept.

When eating at a buffet restaurant, if one knowingly takes so much food that one cannot finish it, the portion one cannot finish constitutes stealing. Our books charge only the postage, not the price of the books themselves. If a person travels on business all over the place throughout the year, and at each place, for convenience, throws the books away before leaving, then requests for free, at another place, whatever books are needed—because the books were obtained so cheaply and did not cost much money—the discarded portion constitutes stealing from the Three Jewels' property, 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? If there is only a mental act, with no bodily or verbal action, one commits a minor offense that can be repented of at the lower level. If one feels remorse before any action has been taken, no precept is violated.