Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Sk 103Shoes

The Pāduka Sutta (The Sutta on Shoes)

Background

The Pāduka Sutta is a section of the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Pāli Canon, the collection of rules governing the life of the Sangha. Unlike the discourses in the Sutta Piṭaka, which focus on doctrines and meditation, the Vinaya Piṭaka contains legal teachings on conduct, clothing, and the daily life of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs.

This section on shoes was established in the context of the Buddha observing problems arising from the way monks used or cared for personal belongings. The regulations concerning shoes, or "pāduka" (the canonical term for sandals or shoes), are not trivial matters, but reflect an important principle of the Vinaya Piṭaka: monastics must live simply, with restraint, and with respect for the requisites of the Sangha.

Main Content

The Pāduka Sutta regulates how bhikkhus should prepare, use, and maintain shoes as part of the common property of the Sangha (saṅgha-bhaṇḍa). These rules include the materials appropriate to the status of a renunciant, the method of preserving them to avoid waste, and the attitude to be held toward these small objects.

The Buddha teaches that even objects that seem simple, such as sandals, must be treated with full attention. This arises from the principle that the requisites of bhikkhus are certified and offered by laypeople with the intention of supporting practice; therefore, they must not be wasted or treated lightly. The Vinaya Piṭaka also records specific situations: when shoes should be repaired, when they should be replaced, and the procedure for seeking permission from the Sangha to carry out such matters.

Furthermore, this section reminds us that caring for Sangha property is a form of collective dāna (generosity): each member has responsibility to protect what is commonly owned, because this helps maintain the sustainable functioning of the Sangha.