四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 3.112

3.112

Precept 56: On bathing more than once every half-month. The Sarvāstivāda Vinaya states that bathing has five benefits: 1. removing dirt and grime; 2. bodily purity; 3. eliminating cold illness in the body; 4. eliminating wind; 5. attaining comfort. Therefore, the Sūtra on the Warm Room states that bathing eliminates seven illnesses. In general, the body has much impurity and it is necessary to wash and cleanse it. But being excessively spotless and making the body lustrous causes one to indulge in and cling to the physical body, lacking any mind of revulsion and detachment. This directly contradicts renunciation. Therefore, it must be restricted to bathing once every half-month; if one exceeds this, one commits an offense. There are five specific conditions: 1. having bathed previously; 2. half a month has not elapsed; 3. bathing again; 4. lack of cause or condition; 5. bathing half the body commits [the offense]. Below, the text of the precept is properly explained. This precept arose because King Bimbisāra permitted the bhikṣus to bathe constantly in the pond of the Bamboo Grove. While the group of six was bathing, the king arrived at the pond with his palace maidens. Meeting them, the king did not bathe in the end. The ministers were all displeased. The bhikṣus reported this to the Buddha, and the Buddha rebuked them and enacted the precept.