Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Sk 91Headdresses
Pāli / Sanskrit:Veṭhita
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Discourse on Head Coverings (Veṭhita)
Background
The Veṭhita Sutta appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Early Buddhist tradition, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the basic disciplinary rules that bhikkhus must observe. The context in which this discourse was established arose from specific situations in the Sangha community during the Buddha’s lifetime, when disciples did not yet clearly understand the standards of clothing and ornamentation appropriate to the life of practice.
The discourse concerns the distinction between necessities for a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī and things considered inappropriate for the outward appearance of a religious person. This is part of the Pāṭimokkha, the code of 227 rules for bhikkhus, meant to regulate external behavior and thereby create a foundation for inner practice.
Main Content
The Veṭhita Sutta reminds bhikkhus of the restrictions connected with wearing things on the head, such as hats, scarves, or ornaments placed upon the head. Specifically, bhikkhus should not wear kinds of headdress (veṭhita) regarded as symbols of pride, luxury, or deceit.
This prohibition does not arise from arbitrariness, but from the principle of training, one of the important factors in Buddhism: vinaya, sīla, samādhi, and paññā. A monk should keep an outward appearance that is simple and unpretentious, in order to focus on lowering conceit and making body and mind pliant.
These items may include hats, caps with elaborate ornaments, or garments considered alien to the spirit of practicing the path. Instead, a bhikkhu should carry only three robes (Pāli: ti-cīvara) and a bag of books, all designed with simplicity as part of the convention of humility.
Practical Meaning
The Veṭhita Sutta carries a profound message about restraint (saṃvaraṇa), or in other words, governing the senses through outward appearance.
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