Xct Mu Bi Pm Sk 18Covering the Head
Pāli / Sanskrit:Oguṇṭhita
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The Oguṇṭhita Sutta (Covering the Head)
Background
The Oguṇṭhita Sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Suttavibhaṅga of the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, the code for female monastics. It is not a Dharma discourse of mythic character, but a set of training regulations related to Sangha discipline. The background of this rule is connected with the Buddha addressing an incident or unsuitable behavior that occurred in the Sangha community, when a female monastic violated an established mode of conduct. Instead of treating only the individual case, the Buddha established a general rule for the whole Sangha to follow, in order to protect the purity of the Sangha and maintain the honor of the Dharma in the eyes of the world.
The Vinaya Piṭaka in this way is not for punishment, but for education, cultivation, and prevention. Every regulation has a deep reason, reflecting the Buddha’s loving concern for the fourfold assembly of disciples.
Main Content
The Oguṇṭhita Sutta concerns the act of “covering the head” (oguṇṭhita, from oguṇṭhati, to cover or envelop). Although the specific content of this text has not been fully translated in the descriptive information, based on the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, it relates to behaviors or forms of dress unsuitable in the community of monks and nuns.
Specifically, this rule may relate to a female monastic covering her head in unsuitable circumstances, such as while sitting in meditation practice or during communal recitation. The purpose is to avoid concealing the face, because truthfulness and clarity in practice are fundamental. Or it may relate to covering the head as an expression of pride or a way of avoiding contact with the community, which is contrary to the spirit of the Sangha.
In the spirit of the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, every rule is directed toward three main purposes: (1) protecting the purity of the Sangha, (2) inspiring faith and support in those who have confidence, and (3) helping each individual monastic develop mental discipline and mindfulness.
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