Why shaolin monks are bald

But because the sangha in Thailand has never sanctioned a female monk, there are no women available to open the door to newcomers.

Buddhists monks choose not to marry and remain celibate while living in the monastic community. This is so that they can focus on achieving enlightenment. What do monks do all day? They do the things that make them communal — Mass, prayer, reflection, service. They also do the things that make them unique — exercise, collecting, composing, cooking. To become a monk, one first must become a postulant, during which time the man lives at the monastery to evaluate whether he is called to become a monk.

As a postulant, the man is not bound by any vows, and is free to leave the monastery at any time. A shaved head indicates dominance, authority and… … Greek soldiers during the reign of Alexander the Great were ordered to shave their heads as a defensive measure — to stop enemies from grabbing their hair in hand-to-hand combat.

Since then — a shaved head has become a symbol of aggression and toughness. The practice of cutting your hair or shaving your head for religious purposes is also known as tonsure. The historical record also tells us that these mendicants had issues with hair.

For example, some of these spiritual seekers deliberately left their hair and beards unkempt and unwashed, having taken vows to avoid proper grooming until they had realized enlightenment.

There also are accounts of mendicants pulling out their hair by the roots. The rules made by the Buddha for his ordained followers are recorded in a text called the Vinaya-pitaka.

In the Pali Vinaya-pitaka, in a section called the Khandhaka, the rules say that hair should be shaved at least every two months, or when the hair has grown to the length of two finger-widths.

It may be that the Buddha just wanted to discourage the weird hair practices of the time. The Khandhaka also provided that monastics must use a razor to remove hair and not cut hair with scissors unless he or she has a sore on her head.

A monastic may not pluck out or dye gray hair. Hair may not be brushed or combed -- a good reason to keep it short -- or managed with any kind of oil. If somehow some hair is sticking out oddly, it is all right to smooth it with one's hand, however. These rules mostly seem to discourage vanity. Most Buddhist nuns and monks today follow the Vinaya rules about hair.

Practices do vary somewhat from one school to another, but the monastic ordination ceremonies of all schools of Buddhism include head shaving. It's common for the head to be mostly shaved prior to the ceremony, leaving just a little on top for the ceremony officiant to remove. The preferred form of shaving is still a razor. Some orders have decided that electric razors are more like scissors than a razor and therefore are forbidden by the Vinaya.

The early scriptures tell us that the Buddha lived in the same way as his disciples. He wore the same robes and begged for food like everyone else.

So why isn't the historical Buddha depicted bald, as a monk? The fat, bald, happy Buddha is a different Buddha. As a result, the Buddhist monks shave their heads in emulation of the Buddha. That is to say, since the Buddha himself did it and achieved nirvana, they can also do the same. Therefore, Buddhist monks actually follow the steps of the Buddha. They see the Buddha as a role model.

Hence, they shave their heads to live out the lifestyle of the Buddha. The Jataka tales have it that the Buddha cut his hair with a sword. And, this was as he left to seek for enlightenment.

As a result, his hair remained the length of two fingers-breadth. This is what the Buddhist monks try to imitate today. A truly dedicated Buddhist monk should care less about his outward appearance. He should focus on being a better monk. As a result, the shaving of the head is a way to show humility and willingness to be a monk.

Above all, it also shows his dedication to the monastic life. In other words, being a monk is a does not come with the power to control things. Nor, rule over others. Instead, it requires a show of commitment and compassion towards others.

Hence, a monk will shave his head since he is not striving to meet up with a social class. We have seen the reasons behind the shaving of the head by Buddhist monks. There are also other important facts to keep in mind. These facts can be seen in the Khandhaka.

And, Khandhaka is a section of the Vinaya-P itaka. It contains the rules guiding the shaving of the head by the monastics. Most importantly, these rules have control over why and how the Buddhist monks shave their heads. This rule has it that a monk should shave his head once his hairs get to the length of two fingers-breadth. Or, at least, at the interval of two months. Anyone of the regulations that come first should be observed.

This is another rule contained in the Khandhaka. It says that a monk must cut his hairs with only a razor blade. That is to say, no other tool may be used. However, there may be an exception when the individual has a sore in the head. And, this has to go through adequate consideration. Even today, the preferred head shaving tool is still a razor. Most Buddhist schools forbid electric razors.

And, this is because they see electric razors to work more like scissors. When a Buddhist monk grows gray hair, he must not dye it or pluck it out. Hence, he should just leave it and continue with the routine shaving. Moreover, Buddhist monks do not check their appearance in mirrors.