[Buddha-l] Nudity was: Re: +AFs-Buddha-l+AF0- Sense and sensibility

[Joy Vriens]

Stephen Hodge wrote:

> By robeless, I assume you mean in one's birthday suit.

According to Alain Danielou, the naughty brother of cardinal Jean
Danielou, the identification of god and man with nature implies nudity.
The authentic (hu)man is nude. Shiva is nude. Shivaite monks are nude.
Nudity was a symbol of freedom, virtue, truth and saintety in India.
Jainism requires nudity. Shivaism and Jainism (which btw the influenced
Greek Orphism according to Danielou) are one of the eldest religions of
India. It is generally assumed that the Buddha started his training
under Jainism, isn't it?

I just wonder whether Buddhism in its prime beginnings, or at least the
Buddha, didn't "practice" nudity either? And in that case why and when
it was decided to abandon it? The ersatz for being nude (starting with
Shivaite monks, later followed by Buddhist monks) was to wear saffron
coloured clothing, symbolising death and the sacred colour of Shiva.

Joy