Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Sk 34Na veṣṭitaśiraso niṣatsyāma
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na veṣṭitaśiraso niṣatsyāma
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Explanation of the Na veṣṭitaśiraso niṣatsyāma Sutta
Context
This sutta appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Early Buddhist tradition, specifically in the section of regulations on conduct and discipline of the Sangha. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the first collection classified within the Tipiṭaka and contains all rules of conduct, possible faults, and ways to remedy them within the community of the Sangha, that is, the Buddhist monastic community.
The title "Na veṣṭitaśiraso niṣatsyāma," meaning "We shall not sit with one whose head is wrapped," reflects a specific situation in the life of the Sangha. This is one of the detailed regulations intended to maintain cleanliness, discipline, and the common spirit of practice within the Sangha. This situation concerns matters of sanctity, cleanliness, and respect for the simple way of life of those gone forth.
Main Content
The sutta stipulates that bhikkhus should not sit together with, or share a practice space with, a person, usually a monastic, whose head is wrapped with cloth or anything else. This act of wrapping the head is often regarded as an expression of illness, weakness, or in some cases, a sign of not observing the virtues proper to a monastic.
This regulation arises from the principle that those who have gone forth should maintain a pure and simple appearance, without adornment or unnecessary concealment of the body. The bare head is a symbol of renouncing worldly vanity. Therefore, wrapping the head may be understood as a violation of that spirit, or at least as causing distraction within the community of practice.
The sutta also implicitly suggests that the Sangha has the right to establish rules in order to protect harmony and the common spirit. Those who do not follow these rules may be excluded from common gatherings or asked to return to proper conduct.
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