Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Sk 31Covering the Head
Pāli / Sanskrit:Oguṇṭhita
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Oguṇṭhita Sutta (Covering the Head)
Context
The Oguṇṭhita Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, the section of training rules in the Pāli Canon. This is a rule related to the deportment of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs in the Sangha community. The Vinaya Piṭaka was composed to protect the integrity of the Sangha, maintain internal discipline, and teach disciples how to live harmoniously with noble ethical principles.
The Oguṇṭhita Sutta concerns the act of covering the head or face in specific situations. In the context of the early Sangha, rules concerning dress, gesture, and bodily position all carried profound spiritual meaning. Covering the head or face may be related to expressing respect, avoiding unnecessary attention, or manifesting a certain state of mind in the Dharma assembly. This sutta addresses the specific conditions under which this behavior is permitted or prohibited, reflecting the subtle consideration of the Buddha-Dharma regarding monastic deportment.
Main Content
The content of this sutta concerns whether members of the Sangha are permitted to cover the head or face in different circumstances. According to the basic principle, the Sangha is required to maintain a respectful and clear deportment, not concealing oneself without basis, because this contradicts the principles of truth (satya) and clear comprehension (sampajañña).
However, in certain situations, such as illness, severe weather, or the need to protect health, covering may be permitted. The sutta specifically identifies valid and invalid situations, ensuring that observance of the rule does not become a reason to avoid responsibility or to display improper faults. This rule is also intended to prevent the use of covering as a way to suspend communication, hide improper conduct, or conceal insincerity within the monastic community.
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