Lzh Mu Bi Vb Pc 83Concealed Places

Paṭicchannokāsa Sutta (Concealed Places)

Background

Paṭicchannokāsa is a prohibition (pācittiya) in the traditional Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, found in the Pātimokkha, the list of 227 prohibitions for the Theravāda Buddhist monastic community. This prohibition arose from a historical event during the Buddha’s lifetime, when the Buddha and his disciples possessed secluded shelters used for meditation and practice.

The name "Paṭicchannokāsa" is translated as "covered places" or "concealed places," referring to dwellings that have been altered or equipped to provide covering or concealment. In the early period of the Saṅgha, these clauses were established by the Buddha to regulate the conduct of bhikkhus in using communal property and living spaces, in order to maintain discipline and the purity of the Saṅgha community.

Main Content

The prohibition related to paṭicchannokāsa mainly concerns bhikkhus repairing, altering, or concealing shelters (okāsa) on their own without permission or without informing the Saṅgha community. Specifically, if a bhikkhu appropriates or prepares a dwelling so that it becomes "covered" or "concealed" without the consent of the Saṅgha, or deliberately hides the use of communal property, this is considered a violation.

This rule is closely connected with the principle of "non-self-serving use" (anānatthatā) and the spirit of sharing the communal property of the Saṅgha. Concealing or independently altering a dwelling not only breaks transparency in the management of Saṅgha property, but also leads to favoritism and conflict in the monastic community. The Buddha emphasized that spaces and properties of the Saṅgha must be used openly and through collective decision.

Practical Meaning

The Paṭicchannokāsa prohibition carries a deep meaning concerning purity and transparency in practice.