Greetings, All:
I just came across some scholarship which relates how, among the ancient Mahāyāna, dharmabhāṇakas had a ritual practice where they cleansed themselves before preaching the Dharma. I also learned that contemporary Chinese Buddhists similarly purifying themselves prior to chanting sūtras.
This reminded me of a sutta I’d read where two lay disciples (merchants, I believe), when asked about the buddhadhamma by an outsider, requested some water with which they could purifying their mouths prior to speaking them Dhamma.
Does anyone recall the discourse I’m referring to? Or, have you heard of any similar contemporary practice among Theravādins?
Thank you.