San Lo Bu Pm Sk 7Covering the Head
Pāli / Sanskrit:Oguṇṭhita
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Discourse on Covering the Head (Oguṇṭhita)
Background
The Discourse on Covering the Head (Pāli: Oguṇṭhita) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition and is a disciplinary rule related to the dignity and courtesy of monks and nuns. This discourse was recorded in later periods of Dharma propagation after the Buddha’s passing into nirvana, when his disciples continued to practice and develop collective monastic rules for the community.
The background of the discourse arose from observations of inappropriate behavior by some monastics. Specifically, certain monks covered their heads or faces in unsuitable situations, such as when listening to the Dharma, during communal ceremonies, or when interacting with others in order to avoid attention. Such conduct violated the spirit of reverence and clarity in practice, showing concealment or a lack of respect toward the Dharma and the witnessing community.
Main Content
The Discourse on Covering the Head states that monastics should not cover their heads or faces when participating in important communal activities, especially Dharma talks, scripture recitations, commemorations of the Buddha, and formal community meetings. Such covering is regarded as an expression of insincerity, or even as a way of avoiding collective responsibility.
This rule is not a severe punitive rule, but a guideline on dignity and civilized conduct. It reflects a core principle of the Vinaya Piṭaka: transparency and truthfulness in communal practice. When a practitioner covers the head and face, they separate themselves from the community, physically and also mentally. This obstructs connection and mutual trust among members of the Sangha.
Practical Meaning
The profound meaning of this discourse lies in its encouragement of openness and sincerity in practice. Not covering the head and face is a symbol of readiness to receive the Dharma, to face oneself, and to share the spiritual journey with the community.
🌏 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.