佛說佛名經 21.37

21.37

“We disciples next repent of our karmic actions of robbery and theft. The sūtras say: ‘If an object belongs to another and is guarded by another, among such things one does not take even a single blade of grass or a single leaf without it being given, how much less commit theft?’ Yet sentient beings, seeing only present benefit, take by various unjust means, thereby bringing upon themselves this burden of future disaster. Therefore the sūtras say: ‘The sin of robbery and theft can cause sentient beings to fall into the hells and the hungry ghosts to undergo suffering. If in the animal realm, they receive the forms of oxen, horses, donkeys, mules, camels, and the like, repaying their past debts with their physical strength, flesh, and blood. If born among humans, they become servants and slaves of others, their clothing not covering their forms, their food insufficient to sustain life, destitute, distressed, and with human decencies almost exhausted.’ Since robbery and theft carry such painful retribution, for this reason, we disciples today with utmost devotion bow our heads and take refuge in the Buddhas.