Lzh Dg Bu Pm Sk 63Not Enter Stupa With Shoes in hand
Pāli / Sanskrit:Not enter stupa with shoes in hand
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Explanation of the Discourse: Not Entering a Stupa with Shoes in Hand
Background
This rule is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, the completed body of legal discipline in Theravāda Buddhism. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of disciplinary documents, recording the injunctions and precedents established by the Buddha Gotama to regulate the life of the Sangha. Each rule is not arbitrary, but arises from a specific situation; when bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs committed a fault, the Buddha established a rule to prevent it.
This discourse concerns the standard of reverence toward Buddhist stupas. A stupa is a symbol of the Three Jewels, a place where the relics of the Buddha or lofty bodhisattvas are preserved. In the Theravāda tradition, the stupa is a supreme object of offering, a center of practice and meritorious action. Entering a stupa with shoes or sandals in hand is not merely a matter of hygiene, but also reflects a deep spiritual attitude.
Main Content
This prohibition states that when entering a Buddhist stupa, a practitioner must not carry shoes or sandals in hand. This apparently simple content actually contains a profound principle of reverence. Shoes and sandals are objects that come into direct contact with the ground, holding dust and unclean water. Bringing them into a sacred place such as a stupa is disrespectful, bringing impurity into contact with a place of veneration.
The Buddha-Dharma emphasizes the principle of purity (parisuddhi), not only physically but also mentally. When entering a stupa, a practitioner should leave shoes and sandals outside, symbolizing the leaving behind of impurities and worldly ambitions. The practitioner’s mind should be pure, focused, and filled with reverent awe toward the Three Jewels.
This rule also reflects respect for the shared space and for other practitioners practicing the Dharma in the stupa. If someone brings shoes or sandals inside, it leaves marks, creates noise and disturbance, and obstructs the concentration of others. Thus this rule protects both the stillness and the sacredness of the space.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.