The Buddhist monastic lavatory has received very little attention in scholarship, despite playing an important role in the daily function of the monastic institution. This article focuses on the social rituals involved in the use of the monastic lavatory as reflected in Indian Buddhist monas-tic law texts (Vinaya texts), arguing that the rules concerning lavatory etiquette are formulated as a means of avoiding disgust reactions. While many aspects of social protocol in Vinaya texts appear to be somewhat universal, highlighting the importance of cleanliness and privacy in the practice of body maintenance, others are bound up with an ancient Indian worldview that often diverges from modern concepts of good behavior and hygiene. Investigating these mundane and frequently overlooked portions of Buddhist law can help us to understand better the complex relationships between the Buddhist monastic institution and its socioeconomic sup-porters in early India.
目次
Abstract 145 1. Introduction 145 2. Ideology and Materiality 149 3. Scholarship on Buddhist Hygiene 153 4. Different Kinds of Bathrooms 160 5. Propriety and the Body 167 6. Proper Use of the Monastic Lavatory 175 7. Lavatorial Contentions in the Abhisamacarika Dharmah 180 8. Other Bodily Functions 187 9. Bathing with Dignity 189 10. Conclusions 191 Bibliography 192
