Why do monks cut their hair?

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
User avatar
appicchato
Posts: 1602
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:47 am
Location: Bridge on the River Kwae

Re: Why do monks cut their hair?

Post by appicchato »

...growing your hair long will help with your spirituality.
<chuckle>
User avatar
rowboat
Posts: 700
Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2010 5:31 am
Location: Brentwood Bay

Re: Why do monks cut their hair?

Post by rowboat »

Image from a Dunhuang scroll of a new monk having his head shaved.

Image
Rain soddens what is covered up,
It does not sodden what is open.
Therefore uncover what is covered
That the rain will not sodden it.
Ud 5.5
indian_buddhist
Posts: 153
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 8:54 am
Location: Bangalore, India

Re: Why do monks cut their hair?

Post by indian_buddhist »

Since Celibacy is a requirement being a Monk I guess it could have been to avoid unnecessary attraction happening due to the presence of hair.
Identification with my country is one of my fetters.
User avatar
TheNoBSBuddhist
Posts: 1614
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2014 4:06 pm
Location: Loch Lomond, via the High AND Low road....

Re: Why do monks cut their hair?

Post by TheNoBSBuddhist »

rilyreally wrote:Hey I'm actually very interested in this topic and I went through all the hassle to register an account just to post this.
And after one post, promptly disappeared ....?
Apparently hair is an extension of ones nervous system and that growing your hair long will help with your spirituality? If that's the case why do monks shave their heads?
Because otherwise, as ordained monks, it would give them a spiritual advantage over Cousin It..and that would be unfair....

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mQi1FK5ZXsw/U ... sin-it.png

:jumping:

:namaste:
:namaste:

You will not be punished FOR your 'emotions'; you will be punished BY your 'emotions'.



Image

Pay attention, simplify, and (Meditation instruction in a nutshell) "Mind - the Gap."
‘Absit invidia verbo’ - may ill-will be absent from the word. And mindful of that, if I don't respond, this may be why....
User avatar
waterchan
Posts: 699
Joined: Fri May 07, 2010 7:17 pm
Location: Kamaloka

Re: Why do monks cut their hair?

Post by waterchan »

Welcome to the site!
rilyreally wrote:
Apparently hair is an extension of ones nervous system and that growing your hair long will help with your spirituality? If that's the case why do monks shave their heads?

http://www.rense.com/general95/hair.htm
That article looks fishy and very unscientific.

Besides, I do not remember reading about Rapunzel in the Therigata.
quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur
(Anything in Latin sounds profound.)
User avatar
ArkA
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2013 2:33 pm
Location: Here and now

Re: Why do monks cut their hair?

Post by ArkA »

I'll restart my yearlong meditation retreat on 15th June 2014, hence will not be here.

"Bhikkhus, there are these three things that shine when exposed, not when concealed. What three? (1) The moon. (2) The sun. (3) The Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata."
- Anguttara Nikaya, 3.131, Paticchanna Sutta

"Silence is the language of God; all else is poor translation."
– Rumi

Introduction: http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=20572
Post Reply