Aṅguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
XIII. Kusināra Vagga

III. The Book of the Threes

XIII. At Kusināra

Sutta 129

Paṭi-c-Channa Suttaṃ

Secret

 

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[261]

THUS HAVE I HEARD

Once the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, there are these three things
which are practised¹ in secret,
not openly.

What are they?

The ways of womenfolk are secret,
not open.

Brahmins practise their chants in secret,
not openly.

Those of perverse views
hold their views secretly,
not openly.

These are the three things
which are practised in secret,
not openly.

 

§

 

Monks, there are these three things
which shine forth for all to see,
which are not hidden.

What three?

The disc of the moon
shines for all to see:
it is not hidden.

The disc of the sun
shines for all to see:
it is not hidden.

The Dhamma-Discipline of a Tathāgata
shines for all to see:
it is not hidden.

These are the three things."

 

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¹ Vahanti = niyyanti. Comy.