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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

7: The Book of the Sevens

VI. The Undeclared Points — AN 7.58: Nothing to Hide

1“Mendicants, there are four areas where the Realized One has nothing to hide, and three ways he is irreproachable.

What are the four areas where the Realized One has nothing to hide?


His bodily behavior is pure. So the Realized One has no bodily misconduct to hide, thinking: ‘Don’t let others find this out about me!’

2His verbal behavior is pure. So the Realized One has no verbal misconduct to hide, thinking: ‘Don’t let others find this out about me!’

3His mental behavior is pure. So the Realized One has no mental misconduct to hide, thinking: ‘Don’t let others find this out about me!’

4His livelihood is pure. So the Realized One has no wrong livelihood to hide, thinking: ‘Don’t let others find this out about me!’

5These are the four areas where the Realized One has nothing to hide.


6What are the three ways the Realized One is irreproachable?

The Realized One has explained the teaching well. I see no reason for anyone—whether ascetic, brahmin, god, Māra, or Brahmā, or anyone else in the world—to legitimately scold me, saying: ‘For such and such reasons you haven’t explained the teaching well.’ Since I see no such reason, I live secure, fearless, and assured.

7I have clearly described the practice that leads to extinguishment for my disciples. Practicing in accordance with this, my disciples realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. I see no reason for anyone—whether ascetic, brahmin, god, Māra, or Brahmā, or anyone else in the world—to legitimately scold me, saying: ‘For such and such reasons you haven’t clearly described the practice that leads to extinguishment for your disciples.’ Since I see no such reason, I live secure, fearless, and assured.

8Many hundreds in my assembly of disciples have realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. I see no reason for anyone—whether ascetic, brahmin, god, Māra, or Brahmā, or anyone else in the world—to legitimately scold me, saying: ‘For such and such reasons you don’t have many hundreds of disciples in your following who have realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and who live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.’ Since I see no such reason, I live secure, fearless, and assured.

9These are the three ways the Realized One is irreproachable.

10These are the four areas where the Realized One has nothing to hide, and the three ways he is irreproachable.”

1"Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, tathāgatassa arakkheyyāni, tīhi ca anupavajjo.

Katamāni cattāri tathāgatassa arakkheyyāni?


Parisuddhakāyasamācāro, bhikkhave, tathāgato; natthi tathāgatassa kāyaduccaritaṁ yaṁ tathāgato rakkheyya:  ‘mā me idaṁ paro aññāsī’ti. (1)

2Parisuddhavacīsamācāro, bhikkhave, tathāgato; natthi tathāgatassa vacīduccaritaṁ yaṁ tathāgato rakkheyya:  ‘mā me idaṁ paro aññāsī’ti. (2)

3Parisuddhamanosamācāro, bhikkhave, tathāgato; natthi tathāgatassa manoduccaritaṁ yaṁ tathāgato rakkheyya:  ‘mā me idaṁ paro aññāsī’ti. (3)

4Parisuddhājīvo, bhikkhave, tathāgato; natthi tathāgatassa micchāājīvo yaṁ tathāgato rakkheyya:  ‘mā me idaṁ paro aññāsī’ti. (4)

5Imāni cattāri tathāgatassa arakkheyyāni.


6Katamehi tīhi anupavajjo?

Svākkhātadhammo, bhikkhave, tathāgato. Tatra vata maṁ samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā devo vā māro vā brahmā vā koci vā lokasmiṁ sahadhammena paṭicodessati:  ‘itipi tvaṁ na svākkhātadhammo’ti. Nimittametaṁ, bhikkhave, na samanupassāmi. Etamahaṁ, bhikkhave, nimittaṁ asamanupassanto khemappatto abhayappatto vesārajjappatto viharāmi. (1)

7Supaññattā kho pana me, bhikkhave, sāvakānaṁ nibbānagāminī paṭipadā. Yathāpaṭipannā mama sāvakā āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharanti. Tatra vata maṁ samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā devo vā māro vā brahmā vā koci vā lokasmiṁ sahadhammena paṭicodessati:  ‘itipi te na supaññattā sāvakānaṁ nibbānagāminī paṭipadā. Yathāpaṭipannā tava sāvakā āsavānaṁ khayā … pe … sacchikatvā upasampajja viharantī’ti. Nimittametaṁ, bhikkhave, na samanupassāmi. Etamahaṁ, bhikkhave, nimittaṁ asamanupassanto khemappatto abhayappatto vesārajjappatto viharāmi. (2)

8Anekasatā kho pana me, bhikkhave, sāvakaparisā āsavānaṁ khayā … pe … sacchikatvā upasampajja viharanti. Tatra vata maṁ samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā devo vā māro vā brahmā vā koci vā lokasmiṁ sahadhammena paṭicodessati:  ‘itipi te na anekasatā sāvakaparisā āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharantī’ti. Nimittametaṁ, bhikkhave, na samanupassāmi. Etamahaṁ, bhikkhave, nimittaṁ asamanupassanto khemappatto abhayappatto vesārajjappatto viharāmi. (3)

9Imehi tīhi anupavajjo.

10Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri tathāgatassa arakkheyyāni, imehi ca tīhi anupavajjo"ti.

Pañcamaṁ.