Why does jain muni not wear any cloth
In Jainism, the reason some monks renounce clothing is tied to their vows of aparigraha (non-possessiveness), non-attachment, and strict ascetic discipline.
- Digambaras (the sky-clad sect): Many male monks here practice nudity as a conscious symbol of complete renunciation. They give up all possessions, including clothes, to show that nothing—not even a covering—controls them. This is part of their traditional path toward greater detachment and spiritual focus. (Women in Digambara tradition, however, renounce many possessions but do wear simple white robes when practicing monastic life in that lineage.)
- Śrētāmbara (the white-clad sect): Monks in this tradition wear white clothes. They see clothing as a part of a modest, disciplined life that still preserves non-attachment, but they do not pursue nudity as a norm. They follow the same overall vows of non-attachment, restraint, and ahimsa, just expressed through wearing simple white robes.
Key ideas common to both traditions:
- Clothing is a temporary, external object. Renunciation of it helps reduce vanity, distraction, and dependence on material things.
- It supports humility, simplicity, and focus on spiritual practice rather than on appearances.
- The goal is to cultivate inner purity (syadvada/anekantavada in practice, self-discipline, and detachment from the ego).
So, the difference you often hear is between the Digambara practice of sky-clad renunciation and the Śrētāmbara practice of white-clad renunciation. Both aim for the same ultimate goal—spiritual liberation—through disciplined renunciation, just in different traditional expressions.