ācariyamuṭṭhi

(Pāli, the teacher's fist). Term denoting close-fistedness or secrecy on the part of a teacher who keeps things back and does not reveal all he knows to his students. It is reported in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta that shortly before his death the Buddha declined a request by Ānanda that he should make a statement concerning the future regulation of the monastic order. He stated that since he had no ‘teacher's fist’ and had never made any distinction between ‘inner’ (secret) and ‘outer’ (public) teachings there was nothing more for him to reveal before his death.