Bare Feet, Heliminths, and Monastic Rules

[hopefullys00n]

Soil Transmitted Helminths are common in a lot of places where monastics typically go barefoot (going barefoot really increases risk of helminth infection). I am curious about measures that can be taken to prevent or treat helminths that don’t break the precepts or other monastic rules.

[Pasanna]

We have had a conversation about parasites before over here

Arahants and parasitic intestinal worms

A mendicant with defilements ended can’t deliberately take the life of a living creature, take something with the intention to steal, have sex, tell a deliberate lie, or store up goods for their own enjoyment like they did as a lay person. And they can’t make decisions prejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, or cowardice. AN 9.7 If an modern arahant were to get infected with intestinal worms (and he know it), would he just bear it because he isn’t a coward, or he’d just use vermifug…

Maybe that will help

[Khemarato.bhikkhu]

@hopefullys00n

going barefoot really increases risk of helminth infection

From what I gather, hookworms spread via human poop?

Thankfully in my area of Thailand we have proper sanitation.

I’ve actually encountered less human waste in the streets of Thailand than I did on U.S. streets (where public sanitation hasn’t been maintained for years due to budget problems and hostility towards the homeless).