Xct Mu Bi Pm Sk 94Not teach one braiding hair

Exposition of the Discourse: Not Teaching Hair-Braiding

Background

This discourse is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Bhikkhuṇī Vibhaṅga, the rules of practice for bhikkhunīs, women renunciants. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not only a code of conduct, but also a record of the specific situations in which the Buddha established precepts to protect the community of bhikkhunīs from negative influences in society.

Regulations concerning clothing and appearance often arise from practical situations. That women renunciants might be taught skills of beautification or hair arrangement is not a small matter; it concerns the conditions of practice, mental concentration (samādhi), and attitude toward sensual desire (rāga). This discourse records clearly: one should not teach bhikkhunīs how to tie or braid hair.

Main Content

This item is prescribed as a disciplinary violation if a bhikkhunī actively teaches, or helps, another person, especially someone with ideas or actions related to beautification in a way that encourages attention to clothing and beauty. Vinaya texts often list specific actions: braiding hair, applying oil, or other methods of adornment.

The reason behind this rule is profound. In the Theravāda teaching, bhikkhunīs relinquish many worldly entanglements, including attention to appearance and sensuality. If a bhikkhunī herself teaches skills of adornment, then unintentionally she is:

1. Establishing a relationship based on worldly needs rather than practice
2. Nourishing perceptions of visible form (rūpa-saññā) within herself
3. Creating conditions for advice or instruction related to craving (taṇhā)

The standpoint of Theravāda Buddhism is very clear: sensual desire is one of the roots of suffering.