Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Pc 82Concealed Places

The Paṭicchannokāsa Sutta (Concealed Places)

Background

The Paṭicchannokāsa Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically to the Pātimokkha, the collection of basic precepts that bhikkhus must observe. This sutta is recorded in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, where the Vinaya Piṭaka is the most important document concerning discipline in practice within the Sangha.

Paṭicchannokāsa, a compound of paṭicchanna (covered, concealed) and okāsa (place, location), is a disciplinary standard concerning actions performed in hidden places, without witnesses. This rule belongs to the Pācittiya category, offenses lighter than Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa, but still requiring formal confession.

Main Content

This sutta deals with situations in which a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī performs unsuitable actions in places where no one witnesses them or in places that are covered. This rule reflects a fundamental principle of the Vinaya Piṭaka: opportunity (okāsa) and clear comprehension (sampajañña) are essential conditions for maintaining morality.

According to the Theravāda tradition, an action is considered a violation not only because of its material result, but because of intention (cetanā) and full understanding that the action is contrary to the Vinaya. Paṭicchannokāsa emphasizes that hidden places are not a reason to take discipline lightly. Whether anyone sees or not, a practicing bhikkhu must maintain deep purity (suddhi), a purity both outward and inward.

The sutta stipulates that if a bhikkhu violates discipline in places unknown to others, he must still confess the fault before the Sangha or before another bhikkhu in order to carry out step-by-step confession. This is intended to nourish inner awareness (sampajañña), not fear of being discovered.