BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 1Perception as to the status of the person whose requisite one is hiding is not amitigating factor here (see Pc 42).Effort. One hides the article or has it hidden. In the latter case — assuming that theother factors are fulfilled — there is a pācittiya in making therequest/command/suggestion, and another pācittiya when the other person doesone's bidding.Intention. One is doing it as a game. The Sub-commentary makes clear that the"game" here can either be friendly or malicious. If one hides the other bhikkhu'srequisites out of the perverse pleasure of annoying him or simply for a friendly laugh,one commits the full offense all the same.Non-offenses. There is no offense if —not as a game, one puts away properly items that have been put awayimproperly (§), e.g., a bowl left hanging on a peg (see Cv.V.8.9.5); orone puts away an item, thinking, "I will give it back (to him) after havinggiven him a Dhamma talk." Dhamma talk here, the Commentary says, refersto such admonitions as, "A contemplative should not leave his requisitesscattered around." Hiding things with this purpose in mind is sometimes aneffective way for a teacher to train his students to stop being careless withtheir belongings, but it should be used with discretion, for it can easilybackfire.Summary: Hiding another bhikkhu's bowl, robe, sitting cloth, needle box, or belt —or having it hidden — either as a joke or with the purpose of annoying him, is apācittiya offense.372