Stealing from Sangha

[DS Star]

Buddhist temple embroiled in bitter dispute
Wat Buddhadhama temple faces allegations of mismanagement by former board members

"...In the past four years, the temple has become a battleground for a dispute involving monks, former board members and current leaders. Three civil lawsuits have been filed in DuPage County Court with numerous allegations including nearly $250,000 in stolen funds and misconduct by Buddhist monks."

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=62,9441,0,0,1,0

The above story I found from Buddhist Channel is really disturbing. Nevertheless, it is nothing new, we have heard of such cases many times over. Seems these people does not believe in the Law of Karma though they supposedly the 'practicing Buddhists'...

The second of the 5 Precepts (Panca Sila) to be observed by lay Buddhists advises us to not take what is not freely given from another. This does not just include stealing tangible objects, but intangibles as well, such as other people's time.

The precept invites you to develop a sense of generosity toward others and respect of others' property.

However, when GREED is stronger, some people is not afraid to steal... even from the holy community of Sangha...

“But STEALING from the Sangha is heavier, and you CANNOT PURIFY that karma merely by repaying the thing itself; you will have to experience the result of that action, which will be rebirth in some form of hell.
 
If you steal articles that are required for nourishment of the Sangha, you will be born in the deepest hot hell; if you steal other items you will be born into one of the sixteen neighboring hells…

Not only will they be born into one of the great hells and suffer there for a long time, but even they are finally free of hell, they will be born blind, with no hands or feet, possibly as some kind of animal or a hungry ghost, in a dry, barren wilderness where there is little to eat and it is difficult to survive... ” - Geshe Lhundub Sopa

[fruven]

I don't know who is talking the truth but transparency or accountability of funds is a very important to defend oneself if there is nothing to hide. Record keeping will be able to prove that one is using the funds and benefits others. It is particular important to resolve this kind of issue and move on focusing the time and energy on teaching the Dharma because ultimately only the teaching of Dharma and practicing it can one alleviate another's suffering. Otherwise the legal battle will become an obstacle of spreading Dharma knowledge to others.

[Manjushri]

The quote that is from Geshe Lhundub Sopa is from the book titled "Steps on the Path to Enlightenment: A Commentary on Tsongkhapa's Lamrim Chenmo". 

In the book it tells the difference between stealing from Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. To steal from the Dharma is like if you steal an image of a Buddha, or take scriptures, or use something intended to be offered to the Buddhas and the 3 Jewels for yourself. Stealing from the Buddha or Dharma, one is able to purify the karma of the action through the application of the powers of confession and regret, subsequently offering something similar to the item you took.

However, stealing from the sangha, which is stealing directly from the monks or nuns, imposes a much heavier karma. One is not able to purify the karma just by replacing the object itself. One will have to experience the karma of the action, and that is being born in some kind of hell. Stealing from the Sangha will provide tremendous obstacles to their Dharma practise and it in turns harms all sentient beings as because the Sangha would now have to worry about their sustenance, which they receive maybe during alms, instead of having full concentration in practising and spreading the Dharma.

Stealing from Sangha, or any pastors, prophets, rabbi, definitely does show that we are in a degenerative age. Why downgrade religion, or take advantage of it, when all it is is to help people? There ahve been many cases of this, not just in the Buddhist faith. Mankind is sometimes ruled by their own greed.

[psylotripitaka]

It may be that from the point of view of Sutra we are not able to purify certain downfalls, but one of the special qualities of Highest Yoga Tantra is that we are able to purify everything, provided we practice correctly and consistently, ignite the four opponent powers, and strive with greater effort to keep our vows and commitments.

Vajrasattva, Samayavajra, Vajradaka burning offering, a pacifying fire puja, self-initiation with strong concentration, retaking the vows and commitments and receiving a Highest Yoga Tantra initiation from the Guru, serving the Guru, and training diligently in the 2 stages are all examples of powerful ways to purify through Highest Yoga Tantra. This is our great fortune.

[WisdomBeing]

Yes, we are very fortunate now to have access to the highest yoga tantras at this time of Shakyamuni Buddha. I understand that in the next Buddha to come, Maitreya's time, there will only be sutra and no tantra. This is a great incentive to make the most of our opportunities NOW to purify our previous karmas. I heard that the Highest Yoga Tantra cycle of the Vajra Terrifier - the Conqueror of the Lord of Death: Yamantaka Vajrabhairava is so powerful that it can even purify the 5 heinous sins. It is uniquely effective and can transforma even the "worst" sentient being who has committed the "Five Heinous Sins" into the Dharma path and ultimate Buddhahood.

These 5 sins are:
patricide
matricide
killing an arahant
wounding a buddha
creating a schism in the sangha.

[Q]

When we steal from the sangha, we must understand that we not only steal from one person, but it is equivalent to stealing from many people as this being, the sangha is one that benefits many people. So by stealing from him, it is making him less able to bring benefit to others.

I remember once that someone told me what happens if one steals from the Sangha.

There are several levels towards it.

What will affect the karma accumulated is the item, environment and intent.

Take for example, if I stole a coat from a sangha, and it happened to be a cold day, and I stole it because I wanted to make him cold... then, that's very bad...

But if in a situation when I stole a coat from a sangha, but the weather was really hot that he wouldn't have wore it anyway... and the intent is because I really needed it, then although it is bad, but the karma is not as heavy as the first.

Also, the duration of which we hold on to these items will count... if it took me 1 day to return it, while another took 1 year to return it, then the negative karma for the time of which the item was away from the sangha member counts.

Of course there is more to this, anyone want to add more information regarding this?

[Tenzin K]

To steal from the Dharma means to take something like an image of the Buddha or to steal scriptures or to take yourself some substance that you intended to offer to the Three Jewels. Stealing from the Sangha means stealing from the monk or nuns. When you steal from the Buddha or Dharma you can purify that action by applying the powers of confession and regret and the offering something similar to what you took. But stealing from the Sangha is heavier and you cannot purify that karma merely by repaying the things itself; you will have to experience the result of that action, which will be rebirth from hell.

Of you steal articles that are required for the nourishment of the Sangha, you will be born in the deepest hot hell; if you steal other items you will be born into one of the sixteen neighboring hells, a region of great darkness surrounding the hot hell, but with an intensity of suffering that is slightly less.

[Positive Change]

On the topic of stealing from the Sangha.... could "taking" in the form of payment from the Sangha be seen as stealing? For example, when building a temple for the Sangha and the contractor takes money from the Sangha to build it and is making a profit and does not do a good job. Is this considered stealing?

In the scenario above, when is it not considered stealing? Is taking money from the Sangha always construed as stealing from the Sangha because we should give and not take from the Sangha...

On that note, do Dharma centers that pay their staff also encourage this stealing? How does taking money from Sangha ever correct or right?

[RedLantern]

Through repeated stealing and robbing,one is liable to be reborn in hell,or in the animal realm or in
in the realm of hungry ghost.At the very least,stealing leads to damage and lose of property.
One who steals or robs suffer in hell and may be reborn as an animal.The karmic effects of stealing and non
stealing mentioned is just the opposite,rebirth in heaven and on affluence that is indestructible and ending in the  the human world.
The 2nd precept advises not to take what is not given freely from another.This does not include stealing tangible objects,such as ideas or time.It invites us to develop a sense of generosity toward others and respect other's property.

[apprenticehealer]

To steal is to take away or remove another person's property without permission of the owner.

I feel to steal from the sangha or any charities is a terrible crime to commit. The sangha depends on sponsorships and contributions from the public. The sangha should not have to worry about their daily welfare like food, medical fees, accommodation etc , so that the sangha is able to concentrate on helping, serving and benefitting the lay people .

Stealing anything from the sangha has the following consequences (on an earthly level ) :
The sponsor , if he found out that the funds / items of offerings to the sangha, that he contributed had been stolen , he would be most upset that the funds/items that he contributed with the best of intention , had been taken by a thief . The sponsor may not contribute so much or any at all in the future.
The sangha would not be able to focus on their work so much as they now need to fund raise.
The lay people would not have so much access to the sangha , for guidance, teachings, counselling .
And the thief himself - how much negative karma he has incurred for himself and how he would suffer for this crime.