At that time the householder Anāthapiṇḍika had a whole village working for him in the country of Kāsi, and he had told an apprentice there that if the monks arrive he should make them a meal. Soon afterwards a number of monks were wandering in the country of Kāsi, when they came to that village. When that man saw them coming, he approached them, bowed, and said, “Venerables, please accept a meal from Anāthapiṇḍika tomorrow.” The monks accepted by remaining silent. The following morning, after having various kinds of fine foods prepared, he had the monks informed that it was time for the meal. He removed a ring from his finger and then offered the food to the monks, saying, “Venerables, please leave after you’ve eaten. I have to go to work.” And he left, forgetting his ring. The monks saw it and said, “If we just go, this ring will be lost,” and so they stayed right there. When that man returned from work, he saw the monks and said to them, “Why are you still here?” And the monks told him what had happened. Those monks then went to Sāvatthī where they told the monks, who in turn told the Buddha. After giving a teaching, the Buddha addressed the monks: “Within a monastery, monks, or inside a lodging, you should pick up precious things or what’s regarded as precious, or have it picked up, and then put it aside with the thought, ‘Whoever owns it will come and get it.’ And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling ‘If a monk picks up something precious or something regarded as precious, or he has it picked up, except within a monastery or inside a lodging, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If he picks up something precious or something regarded as precious, or he has it picked up, within a monastery or inside a lodging, he should put it aside with the thought, “Whoever owns it will come and get it.” This is the proper procedure.’”

Definitions A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case. Something precious: a pearl, a gem, a beryl, mother-of-pearl, quartz, a coral, silver, gold, a ruby, a cat’s eye. Something regarded as precious: whatever people regard as valuable or useful—this is called “regarded as precious”. Except within a monastery or inside a lodging: apart from within a monastery or inside a lodging. Within a monastery: if the monastery is enclosed, then within the enclosure. If the monastery is unenclosed, then in the vicinity.