Lzh Mu Bu Vb Sk 92Sandals

The Sutta on Sandals (Upāhanāruḷha)

Background

The Upāhanāruḷha Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Early Buddhist tradition, a detailed body of regulations on the practice of bhikkhunīs. This sutta reflects the living environment of female practitioners in the time of the Buddha, when they often lived in shared retreats, sharing living space and communal property.

The issue of sandals, or walking footwear (upāhana), may seem minor, but it is evidence of the carefulness of Buddhist law. In the Buddha’s time, monastics lived as renunciants, so basic material things such as footwear were regulated in order to avoid disputes, excessive personal possession, and to build a harmonious community of practice.

Main Content

The Upāhanāruḷha Sutta refers to the act of wearing sandals into prohibited places, such as Dharma halls, communal meditation rooms, or sacred spaces in the monastery. Entering such places with sandals may be considered disrespectful or a cause of material defilement.

This rule is not groundless severity. It reflects the principle of sīla, moral discipline, diligence, and respect. By regulating such details, the Buddha guided female practitioners to develop mindfulness and alertness in every moment of daily life. Each step and each movement becomes an opportunity for practice.

This sutta also shows fairness in the community of practice. By sharing such regulations with all bhikkhus, no one is given preference or exemption, thereby creating equality and harmony in the collective body.

Practical Meaning

From a modern practical perspective, the Upāhanāruḷha Sutta teaches us about anuruddha, adherence to the true Dharma and respect for sacred spaces. Mindfulness is not only seated meditation hidden away in a quiet room, but also appears in every ordinary human action. Each time we prepare to enter a space of respect, a temple, a meditation hall, or even our own private space, we can remember this teaching.