Barefoot

[Andao]

Re: Barefoot

Being barefoot throughout the day is like an extension of walking meditation. One must be mindful of every step as our feet will come to harm if we are careless and we will directly feel the impact of out foot stepping on a harmless insect. It's a wonderful practice and really shows you the power of pain suppression when walking on asphalt on hot days

Gassho

[frjames]

Re: Barefoot

Hello all,

Haven't logged in here for months! .

Its sandal weather here in Southern California where the temperature today went upward to 90 degrees.

Kyrill, I thought of you about a month go when I attended the abbatial blessing of the new abbott of the Benedictine monastery where I go for retreat and spiritual direction.

Here's the tie in to sandal story. Most of the monks of this particular monastery wear sandals most of the time. So I felt comfortable going to the big ceremony wearing my own sandals. Little did I know that the night before at chapter there was a big discussion whether the monks should wear sandal or shoes for the abbatial blessing ceremony. The prior stepped in, put his foot down, and directed all the monks to wear shoes in deference to the invited dignitaries and visitors that will be present.

I was the only one who wore sandals that day seated among the "dignitaries."

Gassho,

James.

[Risho]

Re: Barefoot

Yeah! My wife and I have a pair of those, except they are much, much cooler in black. :mrgreen:

[willjohndover]

Re: Barefoot

Thank you Kyrill I appreciate that information.

Jundo, actually shoes like that have become all the rage around here.

Hands together,
Will

[Seishin the Elder]

Re: Barefoot

Hi Will,

Father Anthony began as a Capuchin monk in his teens and in his 30's began an Eastern Orthodox monk.

Gassho,

Seishin Kyrill

[Jundo]

Re: Barefoot

I happened to see this today in the Japanese news ...

Professor Akira Otsuka has been leading a research group which has been working since 2005 to develop a pair of shoes to use for walking on a sandy beach. You might be thinking this is akin to developing gloves to stroke cats. However, the professor says the aim was to find an efficient way to walk on sandy surfaces which are hot, may conceal sharp objects and which tend to tire out a walker. He does, however, think they may be also suitable for kids sandpits and playgrounds. Here he is with the prototype shoes made by Atom, a local specialist glove maker

Re: Barefoot

When I am outside, I am usually barefoot. even during foul weather (unless it's winter, of course) After all, they are feet. they cannot be ruined by water or the elements that easily. I can walk out in the forest barefoot quite well, you just need to pay attention to where you step. after awhile it becomes second nature and you can walk at a fairly fast pace, off trails, with no shoes on and no pain.

It also may seem painful at first, but that is just because the bottom of your feet have not toughened up enough yet. After proper exposure the skin on the bottom of our feet becomes like leather.

[Onshin]

Re: Barefoot

Hello all,
I spent most of my teens barefoot as a young hippy. I remember when we lived in Bethnal Green, (east end of London), going to the laundrette, where all these old ladies who had survived the blitz and all spent a good hour telling why it was bad for my feet to be naked all the time. Of course the end result is that now in my fifties I hate wearing shoes, as soon I can I fling them off. In all these years I have rarely got anything in them, I think you learn where to walk. As for helping your practice, I think its a matter of what you are used to, I cannot sit with shoes, but thats just me. Like all things its a matter of what is comfortable, unless of course you are in a room with a shrine in it, then its respectful to remove shoes and not take the dirt of the outside into the temple, shrine room, zendo or whatever -do.

Gassho

Joe

[Leffeblond]

Re: Barefoot

Hi Will,
I also prefer doing kinhin barefooted, are with socks on if the floor is cold I'm more conscious of the feeling of my soles, without shoes on. This helps me to stay in the present moment.

When the temperature outside is good, I love to walk barefooted in the sand or the grass. The forest is a bit more tricky, with all these little sticks and seeds and stuff .... Less suited for kinhin, but still great for walking (a bit more carefully then :lol: ).

[Risho]

Re: Barefoot

I think shoes are necessary from a practical perspective. Obviously weather, allergies, other things that can harm the feet. Interestingly, there are runners who really like running barefoot or even wearing shoes that simulate a "barefoot" experience.

I typically go barefoot in the house when just doing whatever including zazen and kinhin but not outside. Who knows what I could step on? And personally, I don't really think it has an effect on my practice. It would be similar if I practiced zazen with or without clothes on. To me it's immaterial.

[Ankai]

Re: Barefoot

this put me in mind of something oddly funny that happened. When I was a kid, we got new carpet, and my stepfather, who already had a "thing" about people going barefoot, really bore down about it. He was positive I'd get a carpet tack in my foot. (Funny thing was, socks were perfectly fine. Apparently they were magic, and a tack wouldn't penetrate them in his world. He just had this "thing" about bare feet. "Get something on your damn feet! You're gonna get a tack in your foot!" )
Anyway, that was, like, 1976 or so. He died in 1991. I was home on leave, of course, and getting dressed for the wake when the doorbell rang. I trotted down to get it, and, right there at the foot of the stairs, felt a sting. There was a carpet tack sticking out of the bottom of my bare foot.
I swear, I could here a deep gravelly laugh. "Told you so..."
This is an absolutely true story. Still makes me laugh. I miss the old man.

[fendis]

Re: Barefoot

I would walk around barefooted, but I can't do it very long before my feet begin to hurt. Probably because I'm flatfooted. The only times I am shoeless is when I'm sitting zazen or sleeping. Or in another's house who would rather not have me keep my shoes on.


Wow...12 posts in two and a half years.

[Unmon]

Re: Barefoot

glad i could be of.....well, you know.

ZING!

[willjohndover]

Re: Barefoot

Tim thank you. That made me laugh rather alot, thank you.

Hands together laughing,
Will

[Unmon]

Re: Barefoot