量處輕重儀 2.33

2.33

Fourth, saṅgha property of the manifest allocated portion category. This refers to the robes and personal property restricted to distribution among the assembly of utensils supporting the body. Because the matter is restricted to specific individuals and is not reckoned with respect to the saṅgha, the offense occupies two ranks, generally as presented above. All are reckoned with respect to a single manifest person as the owner of the wealth; even if many people share a common livelihood, comprehensively regarding them all, it is classified under a single charge: since the property affairs are equal, both vikalpanā and forfeiture are accepted together. The root Vinaya text says: 'Who commits a niḥsargika?' The Buddha said: 'Either the saṅgha, or many people, or one person.' According to this, if one person performs vikalpanā, none commit an offense. As the Mahāsāṃghika says: 'If many people have received their distributed shares, and among them there is someone skilled in the Vinaya who performs vikalpanā for them, none commit an offense. If many people share common property, even if they exceed the time limit, they incur no offense.' Because although the items are present, intentions diverge and matters differ, they must be divided before they are called having entered one's possession. Thus that Vinaya says: 'If many people share a distribution that has not yet reached their hands, exceeding the days does not incur a niḥsargika-pāyattika.' If one steals this property, it is reckoned with respect to the protecting owner (namely, as by analogy with someone entrusted or having performed labor, who seizes it back with grievance).