The 13 dhutaṅgas are the only ascetic practices authorized by Lord Buddha. It is important to note that they are not obligatory. Each bhikkhu is free to practice this or not. We can compare the 13 dhutaṅga to the 8 precepts of the laity. Lay people don’t need to follow the 8 precepts. We must know that Lord Buddha has a perception that is beyond anything we can imagine. He never allows unnecessary things. Jhanas, Abhidamma and dhutaṅga are not obligatory to reach the magga phala stages. However, they are necessary for some people. One can completely ignore these things and become an arahant. The only obligatory thing is the understanding of Tilakkhana and the 4 noble truths. Lord Buddha taught these things because of the diversity of gāti among beings. Some people inevitably have to go through these things to reach Nibbāna. Even among arahants, there is always a difference in gāti. Some prefer to live alone, others in a community. See the story of Venerable Arahant Kondanna. He asked Lord Buddha for permission to live alone in the forest. There were anariya masters who lost disciples and they saw that Lord Buddha had many disciples who respected him. They concluded that it was because he lived a very simple life. Lord Buddha said that they were wrong. Some disciples live an even simpler life. He listed 5 dhutangas. Mahāsakuludāyisutta
In a sutta, the Lord Buddha asked the Venerable Arahant Maha Kassapa to abandon the dhutaṅgas. He refused and said he does this to encourage those in the future who want to follow his example and because he prefers to live like that. Jiṇṇasutta
Venerable Arahant Maha Kassapa was designated by Lord Buddha as the best practitioner of the 13 dhutaṅga.”Etadaggaṃ bhikkhave mama sāvakānaṃ bhikkhūnaṃ dhutavādānaṃ yadidam Mahākassapo.”
Lord Buddha warned against the arrogance that some bhikkhus may develop while practicing dhutaṅgas. Sappurisasutta
There are 5 reasons which push a person to practice the 13 dhutaṅgas.
A person may be wilderness dweller because of stupidity and folly. Or because of corrupt wishes, being of wishful temperament. Or because of madness and mental disorder. Or because it is praised by the Buddhas and their disciples. Or for the sake of having few wishes, for the sake of contentment, self-effacement, seclusion, and simplicity.
Mandattā momūhattā āraññiko hoti, pāpiccho icchāpakato āraññiko hoti, ummādā cittakkhepā āraññiko hoti, vaṇṇitaṁ buddhehi buddhasāvakehīti āraññiko hoti, appicchataṁyeva nissāya santuṭṭhiṁyeva nissāya sallekhaṁyeva nissāya pavivekaṁyeva nissāya idamatthitaṁyeva nissāya āraññiko hoti.
These are the five kinds of wilderness dwellers.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca āraññikā.
But the person who dwells in the wilderness for the sake of having few wishes is the foremost, best, chief, highest, and finest of the five.
Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ āraññikānaṁ yvāyaṁ āraññiko appicchataṁyeva nissāya santuṭṭhiṁyeva nissāya sallekhaṁyeva nissāya pavivekaṁyeva nissāya idamatthitaṁyeva nissāya āraññiko hoti, ayaṁ imesaṁ pañcannaṁ āraññikānaṁ aggo ca seṭṭho ca mokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro ca.
- The same is said for the other Dhutaṅgas.
Here is a list of suttas that mention dhutaṅgas. Take note that the 13 are not mentioned together; they are scattered throughout the nikayas. Araññavagga
- Some people wrongly associate the 13 dhutaṅgas with the Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosa. This is a mistake. The Dhutaṅgas are indeed mentioned in the suttas. Buddhaghosa is a bhikkhu commentator it is normal that he is interested in that. However, it is important to note that the 13 dhutaṅgas were not invented by Buddhaghosa, and it is incorrect to claim so. This is similar to those who argue that the Abhidhamma is not the words of Lord Buddha. The 13 dhutaṅgas are addressed to bhikkhus and not to lay people. These practices are for bhikkhus inclined toward simplicity and hermit life. This is not an invention.
Thirteen ascetic practices (dhutaṅga) in Theravada Buddhism
1. The refuse rag wearer’s practice (pamsukūlikanga)
2. The triple robe wearer’s practice (tecīvarikanga)
3. The alms food eater’s practice (pindapātikanga)
4. The house-to-house seeker’s practice (sapadānikanga)
5. The one sessioner’s practice (ekāsanikanga)
6. The bowl food eater’s practice (pattapindikanga)
7. The later food refuser’s practice (khalu pacchā bhattikanga)
8. The forest dweller’s practice (āraññikanga)
9. The tree root dweller’s practice (rukkhamūlikanga)
10. The open-air dweller’s practice (abbhokāsikanga)
11. The charnel ground dweller’s practice (susānikanga)
12. The any bed user’s practice (yathā santhatikanga)
13. The sitter’s practice (nesajjikanga)
