Xct Mu Bu Pm Pc 60Bathing

The Sutta on Bathing (Nahāna)

Background

The Sutta on Bathing (Nahāna) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically in the Bhikkhu Pātimokkha, the code of disciplinary rules for bhikkhus. It is one of the practical matters the Buddha guided in detail in order to ensure cleanliness and discipline in the Sangha. The rule on bathing is not only a matter of personal hygiene, but also concerns respect for the body, preservation of health, and maintenance of training discipline.

The background for the arising of this rule comes from specific situations when bhikkhus did not yet understand clearly what actions were appropriate in monastic life. The Buddha, with profound understanding of human nature, set forth clear guidance so that his disciples might avoid misconduct and maintain a pure and harmonious environment of training.

Main Content

The Nahāna rule concerns the bathing of bhikkhus. According to the Theravāda tradition, bathing is a legitimate and necessary activity for maintaining personal cleanliness. However, the Buddha also set down regulations to ensure that this action is carried out appropriately, so that it does not become a means for satisfying craving, pride, or for violating other rules of discipline.

Specifically, the guidance on bathing includes the proper time to bathe, the place for bathing, the manner of bathing, and the behaviors not permitted while bathing. For example, bhikkhus should avoid bathing at inappropriate times or in unsafe places. The rule also emphasizes that bathing is a necessary act for maintaining hygiene, not a pursuit of excessive comfort or a way to satisfy desire for bodily beauty.

These regulations reflect the principle of the Middle Way (Majjhimā Paṭipadā): avoiding one extreme or the other. That means not harming the body by neglecting hygiene, but also not becoming immersed in craving for the body and beauty.