四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 3.116

3.116

Precept 58: Concealing Another's Robes or Bowl. There are three underlying reasons for instituting it: First, joking and jesting cause vexation, bringing trouble to one another through such acts; if another's robes or bowl are hidden so that they cannot find them when looking, making them alarmed and frightened, the cause of distress is no light matter. Second, a mind of theft may easily arise; when confronted with material objects, the danger is exceedingly fearful. Third, even if there is no mind of theft, it invites the other's verbal slanders, so that innocence is hard to distinguish and one cannot extricate oneself. Because of these various faults, the sacred institution was necessary. There are four specific conditions: 1. It is a senior bhikṣu's robes, bowl, or utensils, etc. 2. Having the intention to startle and disturb him. 3. There are no circumstances [for an exception], or [where it is not an offense, such as] the owner being careless in stowing them, or the two difficulties, etc. 4. Taking, concealing, or holding them, which constitutes an offense. This precept was instituted on account of the group of six [monks concealing] the robes, bowls, and so forth of the group of seventeen; the bhikṣus reported it to the Buddha, and the Buddha instituted this precept.