Lzh Mu Bi Vb Sk 16Covering the Head
Pāli / Sanskrit:Oguṇṭhita
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Oguṇṭhita Sutta (Covering the Head)
Background
The Oguṇṭhita Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, where the rules of training for the Sangha are recorded. This text concerns a basic disciplinary issue in the monastic community: the act of covering the head in inappropriate situations or in order to conceal one's identity.
In its historical context, Theravāda Buddhism places special emphasis on awareness, attention, and transparency in practice. Every bodily, verbal, and mental action of a monk or nun affects the image of the Sangha and the individual's progress toward awakening. Therefore, even seemingly small actions such as covering the head are examined carefully in Vinaya theory.
This text is recorded in various Vinaya collections of Theravāda traditions, with similar variants in the Pāli Canon. It reflects the subtlety with which the Buddhadharma guides even the smallest actions of the practitioner.
Main Content
The Oguṇṭhita Sutta concerns discipline regarding the act of covering the head in specific cases. According to the Vinaya tradition, covering the head, whether with a cloth, robe, or any object, in certain circumstances, such as during formal recitations, Sangha gatherings, or before venerable persons, is regarded as disrespectful or as concealing one's identity.
The discipline states that members of the Sangha should maintain transparency and uprightness. Covering the head is not merely a physical act but also expresses an inner disposition: avoidance, reluctance to stand openly before the community, or an intention to hide something. For a practitioner, such things run contrary to the spirit of practice.
The specific content of this text has not been fully translated, but according to the Vinaya context, it may discuss cases in which a monk covers his head to avoid recognition, or where this act is considered a violation of basic rules concerning etiquette and awareness in the Sangha.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.