法苑珠林 74.23

74.23

又僧祇律云。若見遺衣物者。當唱令之。無主者懸著高顯處令人見。若言是我物。應問言。汝物何處失。答相應者與。若無識者。應停至三月已。若塔園中得者。即作塔用。僧園中得者。四方僧用。若貴價物者。謂金銀瓔珞不得露現。唱令得寶。人應審諦。數看有何相貌然後舉之。人來認時相應者與。對眾多人與。不得屏處還教受三歸。語言。佛不制戒者。汝眼看不得。若無人來認者。停至三年。如前處當界用之。若治塔得寶藏者。即作塔用。僧地亦然。故成實論云。伏藏取用無罪。佛在世時。給孤長者是聖人。亦取此物。故知無罪。又自然得物不名劫盜。又僧祇律云。入聚落中有遺落物。不得取。與比丘者得。即是施主。聚落中風吹衣不得。作糞掃想取。若曠路無人處得取。又五分律云。若舉衣經十二年不還者。集僧評價作四方僧用。若彼後還。以僧物償。不受者善。

Moreover, the Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya says: If one sees lost clothing or goods, one must call out for the owner. If there is no owner, one should hang it in a high and visible place so that people may see it. If someone says, ‘It is my property,’ one should ask, ‘Where did you lose your property?’ If the answer corresponds, give it to them. If no one recognizes it, one should keep it for up to three months. If it was found within the grounds of a stūpa, it should be put to the use of the stūpa. If it was found within the grounds of the saṃgha, it should be put to the use of the saṃgha of the four quarters. If it is an item of great value—meaning gold, silver, or necklaces—it must not be openly displayed. One should call out that a treasure has been found; one should examine it carefully, looking repeatedly at what distinguishing marks it has, and only then take it in hand. When someone comes to claim it, give it if the description corresponds. Give it in the presence of many people; it must not be done in a secluded place, and one should also instruct them to take the three refuges, saying to them: ‘Were it not that the Buddha established the precepts, you could not even look upon it.’ If no one comes to claim it, keep it for up to three years; use it within the relevant domain as in the previous cases. If one finds a hidden treasure while repairing a stūpa, it should be put to the use of the stūpa; the same applies to the saṃgha's land. Therefore the Tattvasiddhi-śāstra says: Taking and using a hidden treasure incurs no transgression. When the Buddha was in the world, the Elder Anāthapiṇḍada was a sage and also took such things; thus we know it is without transgression. Furthermore, obtaining goods naturally is not termed robbery. Moreover, the Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya says: If there are lost items when entering a village, one may not take them. If they are given to a bhikṣu, he may accept them, for then the person is a donor. One may not take clothing blown by the wind in a village by treating it as refuse rags (pāṃsukūla). If it is in an open road where no one is present, one may take it. Moreover, the Mahīśāsaka-vinaya says: If clothing has been kept for twelve years without being claimed, assemble the saṃgha to appraise it and put it to the use of the saṃgha of the four quarters. If that person later returns, reimburse them with the saṃgha's property; if they do not accept it, that is good.