Now on that occasion the Blessed One was doing walking meditation without wearing leather footwear out in the open.

(Thinking,) “The Teacher is doing walking meditation without wearing leather footwear,” the senior monks did walking meditation without wearing leather footwear.

The Group-of-six monks — as the Teacher was doing walking meditation without wearing leather footwear and the senior monks were also doing walking meditation without wearing leather footwear — did walking meditation wearing leather footwear.

Those monks who were modest … criticized and complained and spread it about:

“How can the Group-of-six monks — as the Teacher is doing walking meditation without wearing leather footwear, and the senior monks are also doing walking meditation without wearing leather footwear — do walking meditation wearing leather footwear?”

Then the monks reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Is it true, monks, as they say, that the Group-of-six monks — as the Teacher is doing walking meditation without wearing leather footwear, and the senior monks are also doing walking meditation without wearing leather footwear — do walking meditation wearing leather footwear?”

“It’s true, O Blessed One.”

The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them, “Monks, how can these worthless men — as the Teacher is doing walking meditation without wearing leather footwear, and the senior monks are also doing walking meditation without wearing leather footwear — do walking meditation wearing leather footwear?

“Even those householders, clad in white — on account of the skill by which they make a living — dwell with respect, deference, and courtesy for their teachers.

“So now let your light shine forth, so that you — who have gone forth in such a well-taught Dhamma & Discipline — will dwell with respect, deference, and courtesy for your teachers and those with a teacher’s seniority, and for your preceptors and those with a preceptor’s seniority.

In reference to “For your teachers” etc., “Going-forth teacher, Acceptance teacher, Dependence teacher, Reciting teacher”: These four are also teachers here. For one who has not completed a Rains, one with six rains has the seniority of a teacher. Likewise, for one with one Rains, one with seven Rains; for one with two Rains, one with eight Rains; for one with three Rains, one with nine Rains; for one with four Rains, one with ten Rains. These also have the seniority of a teacher. And close friends of one’s preceptor, his monastic companions, or anyone who is senior to one by ten Rains: All of these are called those with a preceptor’s seniority.

“Monks, this neither inspires faith in the faithless …”

Having rebuked him and given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks:

“Monks, when one’s teacher, one with a teacher’s seniority, one’s preceptor, (or) one with a preceptor’s seniority is doing walking meditation without wearing leather footwear, one should not do walking meditation wearing leather footwear. Whoever should wear it: an offense of wrong doing.

“And one should not wear leather footwear in a monastery. Whoever should wear it: an offense of wrong doing.”

Now at that time a certain monk was afflicted with corns.

The monks, supporting him, took him out to urinate and defecate.

Then the Blessed One, wandering on a tour of the lodgings, saw the monks, supporting the monk, taking him out to urinate and defecate. On seeing them, he went to the monks and, on arrival, said to them, “Monks, what disease does this monk have?”

“Lord, this venerable one is afflicted with corns. Supporting him, we are taking him out to urinate and defecate.”

Then the Blessed One, having given a Dhamma talk with regard to this cause, to this incident, addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow one whose feet are painful or one whose feet are split or one who is afflicted with corns to wear leather footwear.”

Now at that time the monks would get up on beds and benches with unwashed feet. The cloth[1] and the lodgings got dirty.

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“I allow you, when thinking, ‘I will now get up on a bed or a bench[2],’ to wear leather footwear.”

Now at that time the monks, when going to the Uposatha building or the meeting place at night, would walk into a stump or step on a splinter in the darkness. Their feet were in pain.

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“I allow you to wear leather footwear in a monastery, and (I allow) a torch, a lamp, and a walking stick.” [BMC]