Lzh Mg Bi Pm Sk 65Shoes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pāduka
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PĀDUKA DISCOURSE (DISCOURSE ON SHOES)
Background
The Pāduka discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, an important part of the Pāli Tipiṭaka. In the context of the Buddha Gotama, the rules of the Vinaya Piṭaka were established to maintain discipline in the Sangha (the community of bhikkhus), in order to protect the spirit of practice and harmony in communal life.
The Pāduka discourse concerns practical regulations on the use of shoes, sandals, or objects that protect the feet in the daily life of bhikkhus. Though it may seem a minor matter, it reflects the profound philosophy of the Dharma: every detail in the life of practice must be carefully considered, allowing no negligence or arbitrariness.
According to the tradition of the Pāli Canon, these regulations are recorded in the Khandakas (sections) of the Vinaya, where the Buddha and the bhikkhus together determine suitable and unsuitable conduct, and what is fearful or not fearful (bhayadassana).
Main Content
The Pāduka discourse addresses specific rules concerning bhikkhus’ use of footwear. The issues considered include when shoes may be worn, in what circumstances they should be avoided, and how to use such objects in a way consistent with ethical training (sīla).
The main emphasis is the spirit of self-restraint (saṃyama) and carefulness (appamāda). A bhikkhu may not use shoes freely and arbitrarily, but must always remember the purpose of wearing them: to protect the body from unnecessary injury so that practice may continue. This relates to a basic principle of the Vinaya Piṭaka: using material goods, food, and clothing reasonably, without waste and without lax indulgence.
Specific rules may include times when footwear may be worn (when traveling far, when the weather is harsh), and times when it should not be worn (when in the monastery, when attending Dharma assemblies, when entering dignified places).
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