Dhamma Principles › The Minor Matters Chapter: Not Dressing Up to Show Off, but Caring for the Body When Needed
The Minor Matters Chapter: Not Dressing Up to Show Off, but Caring for the Body When Needed
Everyday life

The Minor Matters Chapter: Not Dressing Up to Show Off, but Caring for the Body When Needed

Khuddakavatthukkhandhakaṃ

The group of six monks rubbed their bodies against trees, wore jewellery, grew their hair long, looked in mirrors, made up their faces, went to shows and chanted the Dhamma like songs, until people criticised them. The Buddha forbade each in turn, but relaxed the rules whenever health required it.

8 points

The Khuddakavatthu Khandhaka (Chapter on Minor Matters) of the Cullavagga, Vinaya Piṭaka, is full of small matters from monks' daily lives. It opens with the group of six monks doing things that people criticised as "like householders who enjoy sensual pleasures": rubbing their bodies against trees, posts and walls after bathing, like wrestlers; wearing earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings; growing their hair long and dressing it with oil; looking at their faces in mirrors or bowls of water; anointing and powdering their faces; going to a hilltop festival; and chanting the Dhamma in a long, drawn-out singing tone.

The Buddha questioned the monks and forbade each thing in turn, as an offence of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa), one of the lightest offences. What stands out is that whenever a monk was sick or old, he relaxed the rule at once: a monk with a sore on his face could look in a mirror, a monk with an eye disease could anoint his face, and an old monk who could not reach to scrub himself could use a twisted cloth.

These are rules for monastics, not obligations for lay people, but the reasoning behind them applies to everyone: caring for the body for health is right, while dressing up to be looked at takes more time and attention than we think.

  1. 1

    No rubbing the body for show, but a way for the sick and old Rukkhe kāyo ugghaṃsetabbo

    The group of six rubbed their thighs, arms, chests and backs against trees, posts and walls while bathing, and people said they looked like wrestlers, so the Buddha forbade it. Later, for a monk with scabies who was uncomfortable without scratching, he allowed a scrubber not cut into teeth; for an old monk who could not reach himself, a twisted cloth; and for a monk hesitant to rub his back, rubbing with the hand.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you see a strict rule, ask whether there is an exception for the sick or the elderly. If there isn't, propose one.

  2. 2

    No jewellery Aṅgulimuddikaṃ dhārenti

    The group of six wore earrings, necklaces, waist ornaments, bangles, wrist ornaments and finger rings. People criticised them as being like householders, and the Buddha forbade monks all such ornaments.

    Applying it in daily life

    Before buying a new piece of jewellery, ask yourself whether you buy it because you like and will use it, or because you want people to see it.

  3. 3

    Hair not too long and not styled Dumāsikaṃ vā duvaṅgulaṃ vā

    He forbade long hair, allowing it to grow for at most two months or two finger-breadths, and forbade dressing the hair with a brush, a comb, the fingers, or oil mixed with wax — the householders' hair styling of the time.

    Applying it in daily life

    Choose a hairstyle easy enough for your real life, so your mornings leave time for other things.

  4. 4

    A mirror when there is a reason Ādāse vā udakapatte vā mukhanimittaṃ

    He forbade looking at one's face in a mirror or a bowl of water. Later a monk had a sore on his face; he asked the others what it looked like, and when they told him he didn't believe them. So the Buddha allowed looking at one's face on account of illness.

    Applying it in daily life

    Use a mirror to check that you are tidy or to look at a wound, then put it down. If you notice yourself looking or scrolling through your own photos again and again, try limiting the time.

  5. 5

    No face make-up, except as treatment Na bhikkhave mukhaṃ ālimpitabbaṃ

    The group of six anointed, rubbed and powdered their faces, marked them with red arsenic, and painted their bodies and faces. He forbade it all, but when a monk had an eye disease, he allowed anointing the face on account of illness.

    Applying it in daily life

    Tell apart products used to treat the skin or protect it from the sun from things bought out of fear that your looks aren't good enough.

  6. 6

    Not going to see dancing and singing Naccaṃ vā gītaṃ vā vāditaṃ vā

    There was a hilltop festival at Rājagaha, and the group of six went to watch. People criticised them, and the Buddha forbade monks going to see dancing, singing or instrumental music.

    Applying it in daily life

    Entertainment isn't wrong, but notice whether you feel calmer or more scattered after watching or listening, and choose the amount accordingly.

  7. 7

    Chanting the Dhamma not as a song Āyatakena gītassarena dhammaṃ gāyantassa

    Chanting the Dhamma in a long, drawn-out singing tone has five dangers: one is attached to the sound oneself, others are attached to it, people criticise, the concentration of one who delights in making the sound is broken, and later generations follow the example. But he allowed intoned recitation (sarabhañña).

    Applying it in daily life

    When chanting, singing at a ceremony or speaking on stage, keep your mind on the meaning more than on how beautiful your own voice sounds.

  8. 8

    Knowing moderation even when permitted Bhagavatā mattā vaṇṇitā

    King Bimbisāra invited the monks to eat mangoes in his park as they pleased. The group of six picked the mangoes bare, even the unripe ones. The king said it was fine that they ate them, but that the Blessed One praised moderation, and people criticised the monks. Later the Buddha allowed mango pieces and fruit made allowable.

    Applying it in daily life

    When someone says "take as much as you like", take only a fitting amount and leave some for the owner and others.

Try it in daily life

Lay people needn't give up dressing well, combing their hair or using a mirror. Being neat and suitably dressed for work and occasions is good. What this chapter invites us to notice is the line between caring for ourselves and being preoccupied with our image.

Try counting how much time you spend in a day on dressing, taking photos of yourself or choosing accessories, then ask which part is for health and appropriateness and which is for others' admiration.

Another useful point is relaxing rules according to real need. Rules at home or at work should have clear reasons and should bend for the sick, the elderly, and anyone with genuine need.

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