法苑珠林 74.12

74.12

As the Mahīśāsaka-vinaya states: 'Borrowing the property of the Saṅgha and not returning it: calculating the value, one incurs a grave offense.' Furthermore, the Guan Fo sanmei jing states: 'One who steals garlands and property of the Saṅgha incurs a sin greater than killing eighty-four thousand fathers and mothers.' Furthermore, the Ratnarāśi-sūtra states: 'Better to eat one's own flesh than ever to use the property of the Three Jewels.' Furthermore, according to the Vaipulya Sūtra, Bodhisattva Kusumasañcaya said: 'I can save even those guilty of the five heinous deeds and the four grave offenses, but one who steals the property of the Saṅgha, I cannot save.' Furthermore, the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, in the 'Chapter on Rescuing the Dragons', states: 'At that time, there were dragons who attained the knowledge of past lives. Recalling their past karma, they wept tears like rain, came before the Buddha, and spoke thus: We remember in the past, within the Buddha's Dharma, due to conditions as relatives of laypeople or conditions of listening to the Dharma, we had faithful minds and gave in dāna various flowers, fruits, food, and drink, eating together with the bhikṣus in order. Or some said: I once consumed the flowers, fruits, food, and drink belonging to the Saṅgha of the four directions. Or some said: I went to the monastery to give dāna to the Saṅgha or to prostrate, and thus ate and drank there. Even across the era of the seven Buddhas, having been a faithful layperson, for the purpose of making offerings I gave various flowers, fruits, and food and drink; after the bhikṣus received them, they gave them back to me, and I took and ate them. Due to the conditions of that karma, I spent immeasurable kalpas in the hells amidst fierce blazing fires, being burned or boiled, drinking molten copper, or swallowing iron pellets. Emerging from the hells, I fell among beasts; leaving the bodies of beasts, I was born among hungry ghosts. In this way I fully endured all manner of bitterness and hardship. The Buddha told the dragons: This evil karma is no different from stealing the property of the Buddha. The offense of a bhikṣu committing the five heinous deeds is only half as great. Yet this karmic retribution is difficult to escape: you will encounter the final Buddha in the Bhadrakalpa, named Ruci, and in the time of that Buddha your sins will be eliminated.'