How do monks shave?

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
Coyote
Posts: 845
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:42 pm
Location: Wales - UK

How do monks shave?

Post by Coyote »

I am guessing they don't use electric razors, and I seem to remember they are not allowed to use mirrors. So how do they shave (head and face)? And how often? Is it required?

Thanks,
Coyote
"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared."
Iti 26
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by Ben »

you don't need a razor to shave
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
User avatar
James the Giant
Posts: 791
Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:41 am

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by James the Giant »

One of the basic items of a monk's kit (the Requisites) is a razor. The monks I know have Schick or Gillette three-bladed normal manual shaving razors, and shave their heads once every two weeks.
That's in the western Thai Forest Tradition.
But I don't know about the mirror thing. I never thought of that.
Then,
saturated with joy,
you will put an end to suffering and stress.
SN 9.11
Mawkish1983
Posts: 1285
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:46 am
Location: Essex, UK

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by Mawkish1983 »

To paraphrase the great Sheldon Copper, "well groomed monks meet in pairs and shave each other, case closed."
User avatar
Bhikkhu Pesala
Posts: 4644
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:17 pm

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

I don't need a mirror to shave — I know where my face is by now.

I do use an electric hair-clipper to shave the longer head hairs before using a safety razor. Some Vinaya experts will say that amounts to using scissors, but that misses the point. Its just a tool to make the job of shaving quicker and easier.

:rules: The scissors rule is about not grooming long hair to fashion it like barbers do for lay people.

In Burma, they still use open razors, and some monks shave their own heads with them too, but I prefer a standard safety razor.
BlogPāli FontsIn This Very LifeBuddhist ChroniclesSoftware (Upasampadā: 24th June, 1979)
Coyote
Posts: 845
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:42 pm
Location: Wales - UK

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by Coyote »

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Ben wrote:you don't need a razor to shave
What do you mean here? Are you thinking of something specific?
Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:I don't need a mirror to shave — I know where my face is by now.

I do use an electric hair-clipper to shave the longer head hairs before using a safety razor. Some Vinaya experts will say that amounts to using scissors, but that misses the point. Its just a tool to make the job of shaving quicker and easier.

:rules: The scissors rule is about not grooming long hair to fashion it like barbers do for lay people.

In Burma, they still use open razors, and some monks shave their own heads with them too, but I prefer a standard safety razor.
Bhante, I only remark about the mirror because I know that I would make a right mess of my face if I tried to shave without one!
It is interesting to read about the use of an electric hair-clipper. I remember reading in one of Ven. Thanissaro's books that the Vinaya rule would include such electric devices, so it is interesting to read your interpretation.

Coyote
"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared."
Iti 26
User avatar
Bhikkhu Pesala
Posts: 4644
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:17 pm

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

Personal Grooming
Unless ill — e.g., he has a sore on his head — a bhikkhu may not use scissors to cut his hair or have it cut. The question of using electric razors to shave the head is a controversial one. Because their cutting action — even in rotary shavers — is like that of scissors, many Communities will not allow their use in shaving the head.
BlogPāli FontsIn This Very LifeBuddhist ChroniclesSoftware (Upasampadā: 24th June, 1979)
Coyote
Posts: 845
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:42 pm
Location: Wales - UK

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by Coyote »

Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:Personal Grooming
Unless ill — e.g., he has a sore on his head — a bhikkhu may not use scissors to cut his hair or have it cut. The question of using electric razors to shave the head is a controversial one. Because their cutting action — even in rotary shavers — is like that of scissors, many Communities will not allow their use in shaving the head.
Bhante, yes, that was the one I was thinking of. Thank you.

Coyote
"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared."
Iti 26
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by Ben »

Coyote wrote:Thanks for the replies everyone.
Ben wrote:you don't need a razor to shave
What do you mean here? Are you thinking of something specific?
I beg your pardon, I meant 'you don't need a mirror to shave.
If I don't have a mirror, I can shave in the dark by touch with a disposable razor.

I was tired and it was late when I wrote my earlier response - I am sorry for the confusion.
kind regards,
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
User avatar
LonesomeYogurt
Posts: 900
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:24 pm
Location: America

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by LonesomeYogurt »

Ben wrote:I beg your pardon, I meant 'you don't need a mirror to shave.
If I don't have a mirror, I can shave in the dark by touch with a disposable razor.

I was tired and it was late when I wrote my earlier response - I am sorry for the confusion.
kind regards,
Hahaha, that clears some of the confusion up :) For a second there, I thought Ben had figured out a novel new way to shave!
Gain and loss, status and disgrace,
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.

Knowing this, the wise person, mindful,
ponders these changing conditions.
Desirable things don’t charm the mind,
undesirable ones bring no resistance.

His welcoming and rebelling are scattered,
gone to their end,
do not exist.
- Lokavipatti Sutta

Stuff I write about things.
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by Ben »

LonesomeYogurt wrote:
Ben wrote:I beg your pardon, I meant 'you don't need a mirror to shave.
If I don't have a mirror, I can shave in the dark by touch with a disposable razor.

I was tired and it was late when I wrote my earlier response - I am sorry for the confusion.
kind regards,
Hahaha, that clears some of the confusion up :) For a second there, I thought Ben had figured out a novel new way to shave!
If I have an epiphany regarding a razorless-shave I'll definitely share it with you!
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
Mawkish1983
Posts: 1285
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:46 am
Location: Essex, UK

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by Mawkish1983 »

Lasers.
plwk
Posts: 1462
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 5:14 am

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by plwk »

I beg your pardon, I meant 'you don't need a mirror to shave.
If I don't have a mirror, I can shave in the dark by touch with a disposable razor.

I was tired and it was late when I wrote my earlier response - I am sorry for the confusion.
kind regards,
Hahaha, that clears some of the confusion up :) For a second there, I thought Ben had figured out a novel new way to shave!
If I have an epiphany regarding a razorless-shave I'll definitely share it with you!
Wax strips? :mrgreen:
lojong1
Posts: 607
Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 2:59 am

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by lojong1 »

the fire method is all over the suttas
User avatar
Virgo
Posts: 1546
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:52 pm
Location: United States

Re: How do monks shave?

Post by Virgo »

When I was a monk, we shaved each others heads. It is a lot easier that way. :)

To shave my face I just used a regular razor slowly and methodically. You can use touch to see if you have missed any spots.

Kevin
Post Reply