<p>What is the purpose of meditation. Quoting from <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/24894/what-is-the-meditation-and-what-is-its-purpose">What is the meditation and what is its purpose?</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Meditation is when the mind comes back home. When the mind comes back home it can sit by the fire and enjoy its own warmth. It can stop being busy with all kinds of &quot;doing&quot;. Meditation is the ultimate &quot;not-doing&quot;. Just sit in presence and let the nature of things take care of itself.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>One may sit in a forest. It provides a good environment for not-doing.  Being bitten is not a useful part of that experience, moreover mosquitos also carry disease. Buddhists want to work to try to stop suffering. A net allows for one to sit in nature without creating suffering for the self and for others.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-26T18:42:28.117Z
2021-06-26T18:42:28.117Z
James K
<p>The suttas take the middle way on this topic.</p>
<p>On one hand, protection from mosquito bites is a function of robes and lodging, and by extension, a mosquito net.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“And how does a lodging possess five factors?</p>
<p>(8) “There is little contact with flies, mosquitoes, wind, the burning
sun, and serpents.<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an10.11/en/bodhi" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 10.11</a></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>And what are the defilements that should be given up by using? Take a
mendicant who, reflecting properly, makes use of robes: ‘Only for the
sake of warding off cold and heat; for warding off the touch of flies,
mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles; and for covering up the private
parts.’</p>
<p>Reflecting properly, they make use of lodgings: ‘Only for the sake of
warding off cold and heat; for warding off the touch of flies,
mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles; to shelter from harsh weather and
to enjoy retreat.’<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn2/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN 2</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>On the other hand, a monk is expected to not be choosy or fussy about robes, lodging and mosquito nets, and endure mosquito bites if it is unavoidable. In other words, mosquito nets can be used but it is not an entitlement.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>So you should train like this: ‘We will not have many wishes or be
frustrated. We will be content with any kind of robes, alms-food,
lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. We won’t focus our
corrupt wishes on being looked up to, and on getting material
possessions, honor, and popularity. We won’t try hard, strive, and
make an effort to get these things. We will endure cold, heat, hunger,
and thirst. We will endure the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun,
and reptiles. We will endure rude and unwelcome criticism. We will put
up with physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable,
and life-threatening.’ That’s how you should train.”<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an4.157/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 4.157</a></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>And how does a mendicant endure? It’s when a mendicant endures cold,
heat, hunger, and thirst; the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun,
and reptiles; rude and unwelcome criticism; and they put up with
physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, and
life-threatening. That’s how a mendicant endures.<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an4.114/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 4.114</a></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-29T22:38:30.863Z
the suttas above appear to say "endure the touch of mosquitoes" when necessary rather than voluntary engage in self-mortification of on-slaught of mosquitoes
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-29T10:23:01.970Z
2021-06-29T10:23:01.970Z
ruben2020
<p>Good householder,</p>
<p>If having to large holes, one might say what a cheat to call such mosquito net. Actually forest's mosquitos, some kinds, have an ease with low land's nets, &quot;cheat&quot;.</p>
<p>Although comfortable if dwelling on one place, burdensome if required to carry in addition. There is no explicit allowance of such nets, yet clear that two of the four paccayas, robes and dwelling have the use to protect from mosquitos. If looking at the Sabbaasava Sutta, that's way to get ride of fermentation by &quot;use&quot;, while on the other side, &quot;bearing&quot; bites of mosquitos is further way to cut off fermentations.</p>
<p>So actually &quot;yes&quot;, the use of nets <strong>can</strong> easy cheat one, so ones fermentations easily last, avoiding the right action of use and bear. Doubt whether allowed or not can be also an obstacle. For one in training, eager after magga, phalla, better not something one should feel depending on it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-27T07:02:33.293Z
2021-06-27T07:02:33.293Z
user21403
<p>The Buddha explicitly allowed mosquito nets in the Vinaya :</p>
<p>“I allow a mosquito net.”—Cv.V.13.3</p>
<p>And mosquito whisks:</p>
<p>“I allow a mosquito whisk”…Cv.V.23.1</p>
<p><a href="https://www.dhammatalks.org/vinaya/bmc/Section0042.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.dhammatalks.org/vinaya/bmc/Section0042.html</a></p>
<p>As the Buddha said, he allowed pleasure that is in accordance with the Dhamma. One of the points of robes and huts, for example, is that they afford the pleasure of not being bitten by insects.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-30T19:53:23.027Z
Is there any evidence in the suttas of mosquito nets? Are you sure the Buddha spoke the Vinaya rule?
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-31T09:50:20.337Z
The evidence is in the Vinaya. The reference is provided for your convenience. I'd have to have psychic abilities to be really sure about what the Buddha actually said and didn't.
Sāvakohamasmi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-30T05:21:44.853Z
2024-05-30T19:56:06.133Z
2024-05-30T19:56:06.133Z
Sāvakohamasmi
<p>There would be a massive waste of time struggling uselessly.  Once you have perfect single-pointedness, nothing can impinge on you.  Prior to that, there are endless ways to delay or outright obstruct you</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-26T05:04:47.513Z
2021-06-26T23:42:13.413Z
2021-06-26T23:42:13.413Z
bw tho
<p>I saw many monks sit in the nets, what is the point of meditating in the forest if one cant handle the forest? Might as well just stay indoors imo. Did the ancient monks use nets? what do you think? I think it is kind of silly and is an attempt to have a pleasant experience.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-26T05:51:08.200Z
Or maybe it's an attempt to avoid disease, since mosquitos do carry and spread diseases with their bites. It seems to me wise to take good care of oneself so we don't, through illness, become a burden on others.
Linda Blanchard
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-30T20:16:39.607Z
@LindaBlanchard I was going to post a question regarding mosquitoes, but I'm afraid moderators would find some reason to close it, so I'll just post it here since it's semi-related to your comment.
If an area was plagued by a malaria outbreak and a mosquito landed on the arm of a child, would it be justifiable for a monk to kill it? If not, the child could contract malaria and die and the monk knows this. Being born human is more valuable and rare than a mosquito. Presumably, a human life is worth more. Killing the mosquito should = less bad karma than allowing the child to potentially die.
SlowBurn
<animals><nihilism><six-realms>
Are mosquito nets "cheating"?
# Are mosquito nets "cheating"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-06-26)

I saw many monks sit in the nets, what is the point of meditating in the forest if one cant handle the forest? Might as well just stay indoors imo. Did the ancient monks use nets? what do you think? I think it is kind of silly and is an attempt to have a pleasant experience.

**Tags:** animals, nihilism, six-realms

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Or maybe it's an attempt to avoid disease, since mosquitos do carry and spread diseases with their bites. It seems to me wise to take good care of oneself so we don't, through illness, become a burden on others.  
> **username_2**: @LindaBlanchard I was going to post a question regarding mosquitoes, but I'm afraid moderators would find some reason to close it, so I'll just post it here since it's semi-related to your comment. If an area was plagued by a malaria outbreak and a mosquito landed on the arm of a child, would it be justifiable for a monk to kill it? If not, the child could contract malaria and die and the monk knows this. Being born human is more valuable and rare than a mosquito. Presumably, a human life is worth more. Killing the mosquito should = less bad karma than allowing the child to potentially die.  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2021-06-26. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

There would be a massive waste of time struggling uselessly. Once you have perfect single-pointedness, nothing can impinge on you. Prior to that, there are endless ways to delay or outright obstruct you


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-06-26. Score: 3

What is the purpose of meditation. Quoting from [What is the meditation and what is its purpose?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/24894/what-is-the-meditation-and-what-is-its-purpose)

> Meditation is when the mind comes back home. When the mind comes back home it can sit by the fire and enjoy its own warmth. It can stop being busy with all kinds of "doing". Meditation is the ultimate "not-doing". Just sit in presence and let the nature of things take care of itself.

One may sit in a forest. It provides a good environment for not-doing. Being bitten is not a useful part of that experience, moreover mosquitos also carry disease. Buddhists want to work to try to stop suffering. A net allows for one to sit in nature without creating suffering for the self and for others.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-06-29. Score: 0

The suttas take the middle way on this topic.

On one hand, protection from mosquito bites is a function of robes and lodging, and by extension, a mosquito net.

> “And how does a lodging possess five factors?
>
> (8) “There is little contact with flies, mosquitoes, wind, the burning
> sun, and serpents.  
> [AN 10.11](https://suttacentral.net/an10.11/en/bodhi)

> And what are the defilements that should be given up by using? Take a
> mendicant who, reflecting properly, makes use of robes: ‘Only for the
> sake of warding off cold and heat; for warding off the touch of flies,
> mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles; and for covering up the private
> parts.’
>
> Reflecting properly, they make use of lodgings: ‘Only for the sake of
> warding off cold and heat; for warding off the touch of flies,
> mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles; to shelter from harsh weather and
> to enjoy retreat.’  
> [MN 2](https://suttacentral.net/mn2/en/sujato)

On the other hand, a monk is expected to not be choosy or fussy about robes, lodging and mosquito nets, and endure mosquito bites if it is unavoidable. In other words, mosquito nets can be used but it is not an entitlement.

> So you should train like this: ‘We will not have many wishes or be
> frustrated. We will be content with any kind of robes, alms-food,
> lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. We won’t focus our
> corrupt wishes on being looked up to, and on getting material
> possessions, honor, and popularity. We won’t try hard, strive, and
> make an effort to get these things. We will endure cold, heat, hunger,
> and thirst. We will endure the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun,
> and reptiles. We will endure rude and unwelcome criticism. We will put
> up with physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable,
> and life-threatening.’ That’s how you should train.”  
> [AN 4.157](https://suttacentral.net/an4.157/en/sujato)

> And how does a mendicant endure? It’s when a mendicant endures cold,
> heat, hunger, and thirst; the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun,
> and reptiles; rude and unwelcome criticism; and they put up with
> physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, and
> life-threatening. That’s how a mendicant endures.  
> [AN 4.114](https://suttacentral.net/an4.114/en/sujato)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: the suttas above appear to say "endure the touch of mosquitoes" when necessary rather than voluntary engage in self-mortification of on-slaught of mosquitoes  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2021-06-27. Score: 0

Good householder,

If having to large holes, one might say what a cheat to call such mosquito net. Actually forest's mosquitos, some kinds, have an ease with low land's nets, "cheat".

Although comfortable if dwelling on one place, burdensome if required to carry in addition. There is no explicit allowance of such nets, yet clear that two of the four paccayas, robes and dwelling have the use to protect from mosquitos. If looking at the Sabbaasava Sutta, that's way to get ride of fermentation by "use", while on the other side, "bearing" bites of mosquitos is further way to cut off fermentations.

So actually "yes", the use of nets **can** easy cheat one, so ones fermentations easily last, avoiding the right action of use and bear. Doubt whether allowed or not can be also an obstacle. For one in training, eager after magga, phalla, better not something one should feel depending on it.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2024-05-30. Score: -1

The Buddha explicitly allowed mosquito nets in the Vinaya :

“I allow a mosquito net.”—Cv.V.13.3

And mosquito whisks:

“I allow a mosquito whisk”…Cv.V.23.1

<https://www.dhammatalks.org/vinaya/bmc/Section0042.html>

As the Buddha said, he allowed pleasure that is in accordance with the Dhamma. One of the points of robes and huts, for example, is that they afford the pleasure of not being bitten by insects.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is there any evidence in the suttas of mosquito nets? Are you sure the Buddha spoke the Vinaya rule?  
> **username_6**: The evidence is in the Vinaya. The reference is provided for your convenience. I'd have to have psychic abilities to be really sure about what the Buddha actually said and didn't.  

---

