Sutta 4: Three Things Better Hidden, Three Things Better Revealed

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0607b26] Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha (佛 [fu]) was in the Jeta Grove (祇樹給孤獨園 [qi shu gei gu du yuan]) in Sravasti (舍衛國 [she wei guo]).

[0607b26] wén rú shì:

yī shí, fú zài shě wèi guó qí shù gěi gū dú yuán.

[0607b26] wen ru shi:

yi shi, fu zai she wei guo qi shu gei gu du yuan.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0607b27] At that time, the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) told the Bhikkhus (比丘 [bi qiu]): "There are three things (三事 [san shi]) that are good when hidden (覆則妙 [fu ze miao]), and not good when revealed (露則不妙 [lu ze bu miao]). What are the three? First, women (女人 [nu ren]), good when hidden (覆則妙 [fu ze miao]), not good when revealed (露則不妙 [lu ze bu miao]); Brahmana's (婆羅門 [po luo men]) incantations (呪術 [zhou shu]), good when hidden (覆則妙 [fu ze miao]), not good when revealed (露則不妙 [lu ze bu miao]); deeds of wrong view (邪見之業 [xie jian zhi ye]), good when hidden (覆則妙 [fu ze miao]), not good when revealed (露則不妙 [lu ze bu miao]). These, Bhikkhus (比丘 [bi qiu])! are the three things (三事 [san shi]) that are good when hidden (覆則妙 [fu ze miao]), and not good when revealed (露則不妙 [lu ze bu miao]).

[0607b27] ěr shí, shì zūn gào zhū bǐ qiū: “yǒu sān shì, fù zé miào, lù zé bù miào. yún hé wèi sān? yī zhě nǚ rén, fù zé miào, lù zé bù miào； pó luó mén zhòu shù, fù zé miào, lù zé bù miào； xié jiàn zhī yè, fù zé miào, lù zé bù miào. shì wèi, bǐ qiū! yǒu cǐ sān shì, fù zé miào, lù zé bù miào.

[0607b27] er shi, shi zun gao zhu bi qiu: "you san shi, fu ze miao, lu ze bu miao. yun he wei san? yi zhe nu ren, fu ze miao, lu ze bu miao; po luo men zhou shu, fu ze miao, lu ze bu miao; xie jian zhi ye, fu ze miao, lu ze bu miao. shi wei, bi qiu! you ci san shi, fu ze miao, lu ze bu miao.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0607c02] "Again, there are three things (三事 [san shi]) that are good when revealed (露則妙 [lu ze miao]), and not good when hidden (覆則不妙 [fu ze bu miao]). What are the three? The sun (日 [ri]) and moon (月 [yue]), good when revealed (露則妙 [lu ze miao]), not good when hidden (覆則不妙 [fu ze bu miao]); the Tathagata's (如來 [ru lai]) Dharma speech (法語 [fa yu]), good when revealed (露則妙 [lu ze miao]), not good when hidden (覆則不妙 [fu ze bu miao]). These, Bhikkhus (比丘 [bi qiu])! are the three things (三事 [san shi]) that are good when revealed (露則妙 [lu ze miao]), and not good when hidden (覆則不妙 [fu ze bu miao])."

[0607c02] “fù yǒu sān shì, lù zé miào, fù zé bù miào. yún hé wèi sān? rì,, yuè, lù zé miào, fù zé bù miào； rú lái fǎ yǔ, lù zé miào, fù zé bù miào. shì wèi, bǐ qiū! yǒu cǐ sān shì, lù zé miào, fù zé bù miào.”

[0607c02] "fu you san shi, lu ze miao, fu ze bu miao. yun he wei san? ri,, yue, lu ze miao, fu ze bu miao; ru lai fa yu, lu ze miao, fu ze bu miao. shi wei, bi qiu! you ci san shi, lu ze miao, fu ze bu miao."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0607c05] At that time, the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) then spoke this verse:

"Women (女人 [nu ren]) and incantations (呪術 [zhou shu]),
Wrong views (邪見 [xie jian]) and unwholesome actions (不善行 [bu shan xing]),
These are the three worldly Dharmas (世三法 [shi san fa]),
Most excellent when hidden (覆隱而最妙 [fu yin er zui miao]).
The sun (日月 [ri yue]) and moon (廣所照 [guang suo zhao]), shining widely,
The Tathagata's (如來 [ru lai]) true Dharma speech (正法語 [zheng fa yu]),
These are the three worldly Dharmas (三世法 [san shi fa]),
Most excellent when revealed (露則第一妙 [lu ze di yi miao])."

[0607c05] ěr shí, shì zūn biàn shuō cǐ jì:

“nǚ rén jí zhòu shù,　　xié jiàn bù shàn xíng,
　cǐ shì shì sān fǎ,　　fù yǐn ér zuì miào.
　rì yuè guǎng suǒ zhào,　　rú lái zhèng fǎ yǔ,
　cǐ shì sān shì fǎ,　　lù zé dì yī miào.

[0607c05] er shi, shi zun bian shuo ci ji:

"nu ren ji zhou shu, xie jian bu shan xing,
ci shi shi san fa, fu yin er zui miao.
ri yue guang suo zhao, ru lai zheng fa yu,
ci shi san shi fa, lu ze di yi miao.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0607c10] "Therefore, Bhikkhus (比丘 [bi qiu])! You should reveal the Tathagata's (如來 [ru lai]) Dharma (法 [fa]), and not conceal it. Thus, Bhikkhu (比丘 [bi qiu])! You should learn in this way."

[0607c10] “shì gù, zhū bǐ qiū! dāng lù xiàn rú lái fǎ, wù shǐ fù yǐn. rú shì, bǐ qiū! dāng zuò shì xué.”

[0607c10] "shi gu, zhu bi qiu! dang lu xian ru lai fa, wu shi fu yin. ru shi, bi qiu! dang zuo shi xue."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0607c11] At that time, the Bhikkhus (比丘 [bi qiu]) heard what the Buddha (佛 [fu]) said, rejoiced, and practiced it.

[0607c11] ěr shí, zhū bǐ qiū wén fú suǒ shuō, huān xǐ fèng xíng.

[0607c11] er shi, zhu bi qiu wen fu suo shuo, huan xi feng xing.