Lzh Mg Bu Pm Sk 7Covering the Head
Pāli / Sanskrit:Oguṇṭhita
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The Sutta on Covering the Head (Oguṇṭhita)
Background
The Oguṇṭhita Sutta (Covering the Head) appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the section governing the dress and conduct of Bhikkhus. In the early historical context of Buddhist sectarian development, details concerning religious dress carried significance not merely aesthetic or practical, but also reflective of discipline, respect for the Dhamma, and the distinction between those who have gone forth and those who remain as householders.
The Buddha established many detailed rules regarding the wearing of robes and the covering of the body, so as to accord with the spirit of saukkha-vihāra—that is, a life of purity and humility. The covering of the head, and particularly of sensitive parts of the body, was regarded as an expression of self-restraint, a means of avoiding the arising of unwholesome mental states, and a sign of reverence for the Dhamma.
Principal Content
The Oguṇṭhita Sutta addresses regulations concerning the covering of the head and various parts of the body in specific circumstances. In particular, a Bhikkhu should not go bare-headed in certain situations, such as when entering places of veneration—for example, a monastery, or when meeting elder teachers—or during pūjā and other Buddhist ceremonies.
The covering of the head is also regarded as a means of expressing respect and self-restraint in one's relations with members of the senior Sangha (Theras) or with Bhikkhunīs. For Bhikkhus, maintaining proper standards of dress is not merely a matter of personal discipline, but also an upholding of the image of the Sangha and a protection of one's own spiritual independence.
The Vinaya Piṭaka further records that leaving the head uncovered outdoors without proper cause may be considered an act of disrespect or a sign of laxity in practice. Bhikkhus are encouraged to wear the upper robe (Uttarasaṅga) so as to cover the body by wrapping it around the shoulder and upper torso in the prescribed manner.
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