Paṭicchanna Sutta

Three proceedings are kept concealed, monks,

they are not carried out in the open. [1]

What three?

(1) Sexuality is kept concealed,

 it is not carried out in the open.[2]

(2) The Brahmins’ incantations are kept concealed,

they are not carried out in the open.

(3) Wrong views [and actions] are kept concealed,

 they are not carried out in the open. [3]

These three proceedings are kept concealed, monks,

they are not carried out in the open.

Three things are clear and open monks,

shining for all to see,

and cannot be concealed. [4]

What three?

(1) The moon is clear and open, monks,

it shines for all to see,

and cannot be concealed.

(2) The sun is clear and open, monks,

 it shines for all to see,

 and cannot be concealed.

(3) The Buddha’s Teaching and way of life is clear and open,

 it shines for all to see,

it cannot be concealed. [5]

Three things are clear and open monks,

shining for all to see,

they cannot be concealed.

[1] “Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, paṭicchannāni āvahanti, no vivaṭāni. 

[2] Mātugāmo: I simply cannot bring myself to think that the Buddha would say something disgraceful about women. Especially since many of his foremost supporters and students were women. Therefore, I take the meaning of women here to be meant in a strictly gender specific way, whether man or woman, the things these two genders do together, in private, is, in my opinion, what the Buddha means by this. Keeping in mind that he is probably speaking to only monks at this point, therefore, the exclusion of the other gender.

[3] brāhmaṇānaṁ and micchādiṭṭhi are the following.

[4] Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, vivaṭāni virocanti, no paṭicchannāni.

[5] Candamaṇḍalaṁ, sūriyamaṇḍalaṁ, tathāgatappavedito dhammavinayo