Lzh Dg Bi Pm Pc 71Pubic Hair
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sambādhaloma
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Sambādhaloma Discourse (Hair and the Body)
Background
The Sambādhaloma discourse is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha of the Theravāda tradition. It is one of the detailed regulations concerning bodily cultivation for monastics, especially bhikkhus.
The Vinaya Piṭaka was compiled after the Buddha’s nirvāṇa, when the great disciples assembled to preserve the teaching. These regulations are not arbitrary commands, but standards of conduct that help monastics preserve discipline, cultivate the mind, and build a harmonious Sangha community. Each regulation in the Pātimokkha has an origin story (aṭṭhakathā) explaining why it was established.
The Sambādhaloma discourse concerns bodily hygiene, an important but often overlooked aspect of modern Buddhist practice. In the context of Theravāda Buddhism, physical cleanliness is regarded as a factor supporting mental purity.
Main Content
Sambādhaloma, or “hair in the confined area” (pubic hair), refers to a specific prohibition in monastic discipline. According to these rules, bhikkhus should not allow body hair, especially pubic hair, to grow excessively long or become unclean. This is not a command to shave the entire body, but a requirement to maintain reasonable cleanliness.
The reason behind this regulation is to protect the spirit of practice from attachments to sexuality and physical beauty. Long hair, especially in areas in contact with the skin or clothing, can create pleasant feelings or stimulation, thereby producing an object (ārammaṇa) for craving (taṇhā). Keeping the body clean, in the reasoning of the Vinaya Piṭaka, helps monastics focus on the work of training the mind and not be distracted by small matters.
This regulation also reflects a broader principle: self-discipline and self-observation (sampajañña).
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