58(5)No Need to Hide
"Bhikkhus,there are these four things that the Tathāgata does not need to hide and three things about which he is irreproachable:
This is a"composite seven,"arrived at by combining a tetrad and a triad neither of which appears in AN as the theme of an independent sutta.The first tetrad,however,echoes 5:100.
"What are the four things that the Tathāgata does not need to hide?
(1)"Bhikkhus,the Tathagata is one whose bodily behavior is purified.
There is no bodily misconduct on the part of the Tathāgata that he might need to hide,
[thinking]:'Let others not find this out about me.'
(2)"The Tathagata is one whose verbal behavior is purified.
There is no verbal misconduct on the part of the Tathāgata that he might need to hide,[thinking]:
'Let others not find this out about me.'
(3)"The Tathāgata is one whose mental behavior is purified.
There is no mental misconduct on the part of the Tathāgata that he might need to hide,[thinking]:
'Let others not find this out about me.
(4)"The Tathāgata is one whose livelihood is purified.
There is no wrong livelihood on the part of the Tathāgata that he might need to hide,[thinking]:
'Let others not find this out about me.'
"These are the four things that the Tathāgata does not need to hide.
And what are the three things about which he is irreproachable?[83]
(5)"The Tathāgata,bhikkhus,is one whose Dhamma is well expounded.
In regard to this,I do not see any ground on the basis of which an ascetic,brahmin,deva,Māra,Brahmā,or anyone in the world could reasonably reprove me:
'For such and such reasons,your Dhamma is not well expounded.'
Since I do not see any such ground,
I dwell secure,fearless,and self-confident.
(6)"I have well proclaimed to my disciples the practice leading to nibbāna
in such a way that,practicing in accordance with it [and reaching]the destruction of the taints,they realize for themselves with direct knowledge,in this very life,the taintless liberation of mind,liberation by wisdom,and having entered upon it,dwell in it.
In regard to this,Ido not see any ground onthe basis of which an ascetic,brahmin,deva,Māra,Brahmä,or anyone in the world could reasonably reprove me:
For such and such reasons,you have not well proclaimed to your disciples
I read with Be and Ee tava savaka,as against Ce tathagatasavaka.the practice leading to nibbāna
in such a way that,practicing in accordance with it [and reaching]the destruction of the taints,they realize for themselves with direct knowledge,in this very life,the taintless liberation of mind,liberation by wisdom,and having entered upon it,dwell in it.'
Since I do not see any such ground,
I dwell secure,fearless,and self-confident.
(7)"My assembly,bhikkhus,consists of many hundreds of disciples who,with the destruction of the taints,have realized for themselves with direct knowledge,in this very life,the taintless liberation of mind,liberation by wisdom,and having entered upon it,dwell in it.
In regard to this,I do not see any ground on the basis of which an ascetic,brahmin,deva,Mära,Brahmā,or anyone in the world could reasonably reprove me:
For such and such reasons,it is not the case that your assembly consists of many hundreds of disciples who have destroyed the taints and realized for themselves with direct knowledge,in this very life,the taintless liberation of mind,liberation by wisdom,and having entered upon it,dwell in it.'
Since I[84]do not see any such ground,
I dwell secure,fearless,and self-confident.
"These are the three things about which the Tathāgata is irreproachable.
"These,bhikkhus,are the four things that the Tathāgata does not have to hide and the three things about which he is irreproachable."