Proper Behavior Outside The Monastery

A bhikkhu can teach in many ways, not just by speech. There is the famous occasion mentioned in the Paali texts when the future right hand disciple of Buddha, Saariputta, first saw a bhikkhu going on alms round:

"Saariputta the wanderer saw Ven. Assaji going for alms in Raajagaha: gracious... his eyes downcast, his every movement consummate. On seeing him, the thought occurred to him: Surely, of those in this world who are arahants or have entered the path to arahantship, this is one. What if I was to approach him and question him... "

(BMC p.490)

Ven. Assajis countenance and demeanour were a teaching so impressive that Saariputta went and became a bhikkhu and a great arahant.

When a bhikkhu goes into a public place, he stands out because of the robes he wears. Whatever he does is noticed and reflects back on his community and the Sangha in general. As Venerable Thiradhammo writes:

"The bhikkhu lifestyle is for the sole purpose of realizing Nibbana. In striving towards this end, it was recognized that certain kinds of behavior are detrimental, distracting or simply unhelpful, and are also unsuitable for an alms mendicant. Many kinds of improper behavior are not actually immoral, but rather put energy in the wrong direction or are expressions of a careless attitude. Some kinds of behavior can lead to lay peoples loss of faith, some are immature or childish, some bad or ugly, and some, quite malicious or nasty."

(HS ch.17)

Therefore, there are a number of training rules to remind the bhikkhu about correct deportment. The first twenty six Sekhiya Training rules cover proper behavior in public places. They may also explain the sometimes seemingly antisocial behavior of a bhikkhu, who may not look one in the face or immediately say a "Good Morning." Here is a selection:

"When in inhabited areas, I will... wear the under and upper robe properly; be properly covered; go well restrained as to my movements; keep my eyes looking down; sit with little sound [of voice]."

"When in inhabited areas, I will not... hitch up my robes; go or sit laughing loudly; go or sit fidgeting; swing my arms; shake my head; put my arms akimbo; cover my head with a cloth; walk on tiptoe; sit clasping the knees."

(See BMC pp. 490-494)

There is always an exception in the Sekhiya Training Rules for "one who is ill" so that a bhikkhu may, for example, cover his head when the weather is unbearably cold or the sun dangerously hot. The same applies to footwear, which normally should not be worn in inhabited areas.^[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The Buddha did make a special allowance about footwear for outlying border regions. In some western countries going barefooted would not be socially acceptable and might even be against the local bye laws. The Great Standards should be used to decide what is suitable.