Bathing in scents and colors (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC88)

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on sunshades and sandals

Bathing in scents and colors

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,

the nuns from the group of six were bathing with scents and colors.

People complained and criticized them,

“How can nuns bathe with scents and colors? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”

The nuns heard the complaints of those people.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“How can the nuns from the group of six bathe with scents and colors?” …

“Is it true, monks, that those nuns do this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them …

“How can the nuns from the group of six do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘If a nun bathes with scents and colors, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A:

whoever …

Nun:

… The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case.

Scents:

any kind of scent.

Colors:

any kind of color.

Bathes:

is bathing. For the effort there is an act of wrong conduct. At the end of the bath, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if she does it because she is sick;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The fifth training rule is finished.