大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 59.72

59.72

Regarding the Commentary's "Third, relinquishment of fruitional action": the text of the Commentary has three parts: first, dividing into coarse and subtle; next, from "Yet the text generally considers" below, the completion of transgression through complete conditions; finally, contrasting to reveal distinctions. In the second part, in other places there are also only four conditions, but here the single overall condition of "belonging to another" is unfolded to form the first two conditions. "Body" distinguishes one's own body, because taking one's own property is not stealing. "Object" distinguishes insentient things; it must be for another's use; although it is not my property, if another does not appropriate it, it is also not stealing, like ownerless property. "Perception" means knowing that it is another's property. "Action" refers to the volitional mind. Regarding "reversing the mind of never stealing": this should mean taking with a stealing mind. If one lacks a stealing mind, even if one knows it is another's property, taking it for temporary use, or taking it with mutual consent, or intending to let the other know, none of these is stealing. "Fifth, substance, meaning lifting and moving it from its original place": this is the completion of the karma of theft; this reveals that the preceding four are preparatory upāyas, and this is also the temporal division of the completion of karma. Killing requires terminating life so that it does not continue; sexual misconduct requires uniting with the object; stealing requires lifting and moving. For example, grasping an object on a bed with one's hand: although it is united with the object, it is not yet termed stealing; it must be lifted and moved. The moment it leaves the bed, even if one does not take it any further, theft is already accomplished.