Mpt Pc 60Bathing
Pāli / Sanskrit:Nahāna
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
THE DISCOURSE ON BATHING (NAHĀNA)
Background
The discourse on bathing is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Patimokkha (Pātimokkha), the basic code that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs must observe. It is part of the detailed rules governing the life of practice in the Sangha community.
The discourse is presented in the context of the Buddha laying down rules of conduct in order to maintain discipline and cleanliness in the community of disciples. These rules are not punitive precepts, but practical guidelines that help monastics maintain health, dignity, and focus on spiritual practice.
Main Content
The rule on bathing concerns personal hygiene and the protection of physical health in the course of practice. According to the Vinaya, the appropriate conditions and times for bathing are specifically regulated. In particular, this discourse emphasizes ensuring that bathing is performed with dignity, without wasting time, and in accord with the humble spirit of practice.
In the Theravāda tradition, bathing is regarded as part of Dhamma (Dharma): a daily action to be performed consciously. Monastics are instructed to bathe mindfully, not out of attachment to the body or a search for comfort. The discourse emphasizes that bodily cleanliness is a way of respecting oneself as a vehicle for practicing the Dharma, not merely a means of satisfying desire.
Specific regulations may include the proper time of day for bathing, the place, the method, and how to handle used water. This reflects the thought of Theravāda Buddhism that every daily activity is an occasion to train right mindfulness (sammā-sati) and right concentration (sammā-samādhi).
Practical Meaning
The discourse on bathing teaches us that cleanliness is not only a matter of material hygiene but also an expression of spiritual discipline. When we bathe with right mindfulness, we transform an ordinary activity into a meditation exercise.
🌏 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.