Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Pj 2Theft
Pāli / Sanskrit:Adinnādāna
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Adinnādāna Sutta: On the Offense of Taking What Is Not Given
Background
Adinnādāna, taking what is not given, is one of the five basic prohibitions in the Five Precepts, the ethical foundation of all Theravāda Buddhism. In the Vinaya Piṭaka, detailed regulations concerning this offense are recorded not to imprison people, but to protect harmony in the Sangha and teach respect for the property, freedom, and rights of others.
According to the Pāli tradition, the offense of taking what is not given is classified into different degrees according to the value of the object taken, the intention of the person taking it, and the degree of acknowledgment by the person from whom it is taken. For bhikkhus, these rules are very strict because the Sangha lives by material requisites voluntarily offered by the Buddhist community.
Main Content
Adinnādāna includes the act of taking any object belonging to another without clear permission or the owner’s consent. This includes not only ordinary theft, but also subtle actions such as not repaying debt, keeping an item entrusted to one, or using the shared property of the Sangha for personal purposes.
In the Pātimokkha, the basic discipline for bhikkhus, violation of this rule is recorded in detail through many specific scenarios. For example, stealing a comb, a robe, or even a grain of rice is regarded as Adinnādāna. The degree of violation depends on: (1) whether the object taken belongs to someone; (2) whether the person taking it has the intention to take it without permission; (3) whether the person carries out the act of taking; and (4) whether the object has been removed from the owner’s possession.
The detailed provisions in the Vinaya Piṭaka also handle relative cases: if a bhikkhu takes an object because he thinks the owner no longer wants it, but in fact the owner still wants to keep it, that is still Adinnādāna. The basic principle is: nothing should be taken unless it has been clearly and voluntarily given.
Practical Meaning
The deep meaning of Adinnādāna goes beyond the simple observance of rules.
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