Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Pj 2Theft
Pāli / Sanskrit:Adinnādāna
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The Sutra on Taking What Is Not Given: An Explanation of Adinnādāna
Background
Adinnādāna (taking what is not given) is one of the most foundational regulations of the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. This sutra appears in the Pātimokkha, the list of offenses and rules that bhikkhus must observe in order to maintain the sanctity of the monastic life.
The historical background of Adinnādāna is connected with specific situations that occurred in the early Sangha. The Buddha witnessed problems related to property, the loss suffered by laypeople, and the community’s distrust of the Sangha. To protect the purity of the Sangha and fulfill the spirit of compassion, he set forth this rule with purpose and care.
Main Content
Adinnādāna refers to taking the goods or property of another without the owner’s permission or without a lawful basis. In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this is considered one of the four Pārājika violations, offenses corresponding to expulsion from the Sangha, when committed under specific conditions.
However, a clear distinction must be made: this rule is not only about ordinary theft, but about the ethical relationship between a bhikkhu and the property of others. The sutra identifies five factors that must be fulfilled for the act to be considered an offense: (1) the object belongs to another, (2) the person knows that it belongs to another, (3) they have the intention to take it, (4) they perform the act of taking, and (5) the object is moved from its original place.
Special cases are also considered in the Vinaya: taking a small object, taking in an emergency, or taking because of misunderstanding are all handled differently. This shows that the Vinaya Piṭaka is not rigid law, but a system of practice constructed with understanding and compassion.
Practical Meaning
In the context of modern practice, Adinnādāna does not apply only to those who have gone forth.
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