Xct Mu Bu Pm Pj 2Theft
Pāli / Sanskrit:Adinnādāna
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Adinnādāna Sutta (Taking What Is Not Given)
Background
The Adinnādāna Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the early tradition, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the basic precepts of Buddhism. In this discourse, the Buddha especially emphasizes the act of “taking what is not given,” a fundamental ethical violation that directly affects monastics and the community of practice.
Adinnādāna, from “adinna,” not given, and “dāna,” taking, is one of the first prohibitions established by the Buddha when building the religious community. This rule concerns not only ordinary theft, but also all ways of appropriating another person’s property without permission or consent. In the Vinaya Pitaka, the Pātimokkha section is the foundation of ethical life, regularly recited, maintained, and studied by all monastics.
Main Content
The Adinnādāna Sutta states that, for monastics, taking anything not permitted by its owner, whether gold and silver, clothing, food, or even the smallest articles, constitutes a grave offense. The Buddha not only forbids direct theft, but also extends the concept to subtle situations: taking while thinking it is permitted, taking in a confused state, or taking through an intermediary.
The property of the noble Sangha (Saṅgha) is regarded as sacred. If a monastic takes communal property without permission, this is considered a Pārājika offense, one of the gravest violations that may lead to expulsion from the noble Sangha. This reflects the Buddha’s profound understanding that respect for the property of others is the foundation of trust and social harmony.
The discourse also distinguishes between different degrees of violation: from unintentional acts to intentional acts, from small objects to objects of great value. Each degree has legal penalties, from confession and temporary suspension to expulsion, corresponding to the nature of the fault.
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