Xct Mu Bu Vb Pj 2Theft
Pāli / Sanskrit:Adinnādāna
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THE SUTTA ON TAKING WHAT IS NOT GIVEN
(Adinnādāna — Taking Another’s Property Without Permission)
Background
The Sutta on Taking What Is Not Given, Adinnādāna, is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Pāli Pātimokkha, the first code of discipline, where the rules of conduct that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs must observe are listed. This is one of the most basic ethical issues in Theravāda Buddhism.
The Buddha’s teaching on Adinnādāna arose from the need to build a community of practice, the Sangha, with clear rules of conduct. When bhikkhus were newly ordained, or when unclear situations arose concerning taking something without the owner’s permission, the Buddha established specific guidelines so that laypeople and bhikkhus could distinguish right from wrong.
Main Content
Adinnādāna is defined as the act of taking anything, from money, food, and clothing to other objects, when the owner has not given permission, with the intention to appropriate it. This is regarded as one of the five basic precepts, Pañcasīla, not only for bhikkhus but also for those who study the Buddha-Dharma.
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, an action is considered a violation of Adinnādāna when these factors are present: (1) the object belongs to another person, (2) the other person clearly knows it is theirs, (3) the taker is aware that it has not been given, and (4) there is an act of taking or carrying away with the intention to appropriate it.
However, the Buddha also set out specific cases: taking an object if the owner has died, or taking an abandoned object after trying to find the owner and failing, is not considered a violation. In addition, if an object is taken with the owner’s consent, provided that consent is genuinely clear, it is not Adinnādāna.
The Buddha emphasized that this action harms others, parasaṃvattanika, and breaks trust, an essential factor in building a community.
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