四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.98

2.98

"If a bhikṣu, knowing that property belongs to the saṃgha, seeks it for himself, it is a niḥsargika-prāyaścittika." / In this full text of the precept there are four phrases: first, the offender; second, "if knowing"; third, property promised to the saṃgha; fourth, diverting it, whereupon he commits the offense. / In the detailed explanation, the first phrase can be understood. The second, stating "knowing": the Vinaya states that if one does not know it was promised to the saṃgha and diverts it, it is not [an offense]. The third, stating "property of the saṃgha": the Vinaya states that there are three kinds of saṃgha property: first, already promised to the saṃgha and made for the saṃgha's sake; second, not yet promised to the saṃgha but made for the saṃgha's sake, such as when a lay family makes beds, mattresses, utensils, and articles to offer to the saṃgha; third, already given to the saṃgha, meaning already promised to the saṃgha and already relinquished to the saṃgha. With respect to these three categories of property, diverting them entails lighter or heavier offenses: diverting the first property incurs a forfeiture [prāyaścittika]; diverting the second property incurs a duṣkṛta; diverting the third incurs a grave [pārājika] offense. The fourth, stating "seeks it for himself, it is a niḥsargika-prāyaścittika," is the phrase establishing the offense. The method of forfeiture and confession is as explained before. / Below is miscellaneous clarification from the *Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya*. If a person brings property and asks: "Where should I make an offering to the saṃgha?" Answer: "Give it according to whichever place you revere." If [asked]: "Where is the retribution greatest?" Answer: "Give to the saṃgha." If [asked]: "Who maintains the precepts purely?" Answer: "None who break the precepts are impure." If he says: "I have already given to the saṃgha, but now I give to the Venerable," one may accept it without offense. If he says: "Where should this property be placed so that I may constantly see it being used?" Answer: "Bhikṣu So-and-so sits in meditation, recites the sūtras, and upholds the precepts; if you give it to him, you will long see it being used." / The *Dharmaguptaka Vinaya* clarifies four pairs and eight cases, meaning instructing someone to divert [property] not to oneself, incurring light offenses. First is the pair of the stūpa and the saṃgha; second is the pair of the universal [saṃgha] and the present [saṃgha]; third is the pair of the two assemblies of bhikṣus and bhikṣuṇīs; fourth is discerning the same classes among the above three. Among the same class, one diverts this to give to that, hence it says "promised to a different place." Therefore the Vinaya states: if property was promised to the saṃgha and one redirects it to a stūpa; promised to the saṃgha of the four directions and one diverts it to the saṃgha present; promised to the bhikṣu-saṃgha and one diverts it to the bhikṣuṇī-saṃgha; promised to a different place […] up to diverting from a different place to this place—all are duṣkṛtas. These all refer to when it has not yet been definitively determined; if it was definitively and specifically to be given, one commits offenses according to the previous [rules]. In the *Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya*, diverting between this and that animal incurs a transgression confessed by mind. However, among returning the property, in the four [Vinayas], five [Vinayas], and ten [recensions]—in the three Vinayas, having relinquished it, one uses it oneself and does not need to return it to the saṃgha, because it was not definitively owned by the saṃgha. The *Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya* states: if one diverts the five bedding items from the saṃgha, one relinquishes them facing the saṃgha, and once they enter the saṃgha, the saṃgha uses them as it pleases. The two commentaries, *Vibhāṣā* and *Samantapāsādikā*, state that having relinquished it, one returns it to the saṃgha; if one does not return it, one commits a grave offense. The *Vinayavibhāṣā* states: if one diverts an offering that should be received by the saṃgha to oneself, one must relinquish it and return it to the great assembly. Therefore the *Sarvāstivāda Vinaya* and *Vibhāṣā* state: if a donor gives property to this pravāraṇā saṃgha, and one diverts it to that pravāraṇā saṃgha, the property must be returned to this bhikṣu, and one makes a duṣkṛta confession; if one does not return it and this saṃgha demands the payment, it becomes a grave offense; even diverting property between this and that single person also becomes a grave offense. Based on this, when it definitively belongs to the saṃgha, diverting it this time to give to another person becomes a grave offense. / Regarding non-offenses, the Vinaya states: if one does not know; if it was already promised but one has the notion that it was not promised; if bad [goods] were promised and one persuades them to give good [goods]; if little was promised and one persuades them to give much; if it was promised to one person and one persuades them to give to many people; or if it was by mistake, in jest, or by slip of the tongue—in all such cases there is no offense.