Monastics & Hygiene
Upvote:5
Monks and nuns generally take good care of their bodies so they may be better able to continue to share the dharma with those who may benefit. They keep good hygiene of their robes and living quarters to prevent disease and be healthy.
Here is an excerpt that gives a specific example of personal hygiene:
In the Anguttara Nikaya there is a short sutta in which the Buddha describes the benefits of using a tooth stick (dantakaṭṭha), the ancient Indian equivalent to our tooth brush. The advantages of regular brushing, the Buddha said, include that it is that it is good for the eyes, the breath does not have a bad smell, the taste buds are cleaned, bile and phlegm do not mix with the food, and food becomes more palatable (A.III,250).
Modern monks and nuns adapt the ancient teachings with regards to modern knowledge of hygiene. An example:
pācittiya 57
yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyeyya aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo, diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamaso, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamaso, kammasamayo, addhānagamanasamayo, vātavuṭṭhisamayo, ayaṃ tattha samayo.
Do not wash more than twice a month if the body is not dirty. Except than in exceptional situations, if a bhikkhu washes his body before half a month has elapsed since his previous washing, he commits a pācittiya.
These are the exceptional circumstances that permit a bhikkhu to wash:
during the hot season (period of two and a half months from the May new moon until the August full moon); in case of illness, fever or any other medical reason.; after having carried out a physical work that has caused sweating; after having made a trip of a distance of at least half a yūjanā – between five and six kilometres; when dirty (dust, mud, sand, excessive transpiration, etc.) Attention: This rule only applies in the "majjhima desa" region of modern northern India, where the Buddha lived. In fact, bhikkhus living outside this region can freely wash, without committing a fault.
Discipline is for the sake of restraint,
restraint for the sake of freedom from remorse,
freedom from remorse for the sake of joy,
joy for the sake of rapture,
rapture for the sake of tranquillity,
tranquillity for the sake of pleasure,
pleasure for the sake of concentration,
concentration for the sake of knowledge
and vision of things as they are,
knowledge and vision of things as they are
for the sake of disenchantment,
disenchantment for the sake of release,
release for the sake of knowledge and vision of release,
knowledge and vision of release
for the sake of total unbinding without clinging.
-- Parivaara.XII.2 (BMC p.1)
More post
- 📝 Basic dharma theory tells me that it is definitely not possible to perceive both fingers simultaneously
- 📝 Experiences in Meditation: Am I stucked?
- 📝 The Buddha-nature of a dog
- 📝 What is real meanning of Prathipathi poojawa?
- 📝 Does Kwan Yin hold a place in Theravada Buddhism?
- 📝 Theory of momentariness -- do things arise ex nihilo?
- 📝 A Question About our Aatma
- 📝 Why is Rupa (not) Ultimate Reality?
- 📝 Is Lineage vital?
- 📝 Is the age of monastic life over? Is it societal conditioning or keeping up with the times?
- 📝 Is going for refuge central to all Buddhist traditions?
- 📝 Does Nirvana really means stopping of birth and death? Does it ensures that no new one will arise again?
- 📝 If there is no Self , what Self is there to be affected by the karma which non-Self now performs?
- 📝 Which Buddhist Meditation is comparable to Transcendental Meditation?
- 📝 Fundamental building blocks of reality according to Buddhism?
- 📝 Am I "fooling" myself?
- 📝 Why did the Buddha contradict about His teachings in these two different suttas?
- 📝 Conflict between theistic religious belief and Buddhist practice?
- 📝 what is zen's attitude / teaching on keeping a journal?
- 📝 Are teaching on gratitude and "duty" nessesary?
- 📝 What is the true meaning of Kaya Sankhara, Vaci Sankhara and Citta Sankhara
- 📝 What we have to do for bad karma from a prior life?
- 📝 Annatta and taking responsibility
- 📝 what is the nature of citta? nicca or anicca?
- 📝 Insight guidance
- 📝 Is h*m*sexuality a sin?
- 📝 Is there any kind of stress and suffering the Buddhas medicine would not help?
- 📝 The buddhist dillema on lesser evil
- 📝 How do you identify the 5 factors associated with Jhana?
- 📝 How do enlightened people think?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Monastics & Hygiene
- 📝 Why do monastics in certain Buddhist traditions take new names?
- 📝 Relying on the Laity, monastics
- 📝 Right Livelihood Monastics
- 📝 Are monastics allowed to wear lay disciple's clothing?
- 📝 Is rebirth a delusional belief?
- 📝 Can the Buddha ever be a woman?
- 📝 If there is no soul, how can there be rebirth?
- 📝 If a buddhist should not kill a mouse living in their home, what justification do they have to rid themselves of a parasite such tapeworms
- 📝 Introductory books to Buddhism
- 📝 Is killing vermin and insects justifiable?
- 📝 What exactly differentiates Vipassana from Samatha meditation?
- 📝 How to explain what Buddhism is?
- 📝 Does illegal downloading or viewing of copyright material violate the second precept?
- 📝 How does stream entry occur?
- 📝 Is moderate drinking acceptable in Buddhism?
- 📝 Do buddhists fall in love?
- 📝 Are all Buddhists vegetarian?
- 📝 Lust - How Can it be Overcome?
- 📝 Should one give to beggars?
- 📝 Where is the Buddha quoted as saying do not believe anything I say until you can prove it by yourself?
- 📝 How not to kill the mouse in my house?
- 📝 Is Jesus considered to be a buddha?
- 📝 Any advice on leg numbing during sitting?
- 📝 Is low self-esteem a Western phenomenon?
- 📝 Role of belief in Buddhism
- 📝 When were women first welcomed into Buddhist orders?
- 📝 Is drinking coffee or tea against the fifth precept?
- 📝 Did Gautama Buddha exist?
- 📝 Masturbation: Does it break the 3rd precept?