Shoes protect the feet, but are they a hinderance On the mind?

Question

When we do walking meditation, it is very noticeable that the feet are very sensitive, (touch on the ground), sensing heat, as well as absorbing vibrations from the ground to our ears (jolting our eardrums sometimes).

Should we reduce the amount of time we spend in shoes? After a while meditating I become more reluctant to wear shoes outdoors in everyday life. Does anyone else feel the same way? :D

Comments

It does make sense.  Thank you.
What I was getting at though was when we are taught walking meditation, we do so barefooted, with arms in a certain posture. When we are taught sitting meditation, we Are taught how to posture ourselves.  It has become a natural habit that I take into my daily life.  What started off as uncomfortable becomes comfortable....And so too does walking barefoot (plus you get to feel the ground and all it’s textures- something I realise I missed out of since birth due to shoes and socks)

In daily life, When I stand, I automatically stand with my hands clasped in front of me (as though grasping a begging bowl) - a habit/nature that came about from being postured in a retreat.  So I was wondering if meditation has changed anyone, in the same sense.

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Lol.....

Yeah, preferences and habits change. The mind gets used to doing things a certain way, I guess.

In my case, I walk barefoot as much as possible. Have done that already before I ever meditated. In that sense, it's not new for me.
Sometimes, due to pain, I do have to wear shoes during walking meditation, and sticks to support the posture. Something I got used to as well after a while.
For me the sitting posture was more challenging. I'm not even able to do full lotus. Even so, it really was difficult and painful. Now, most of the time when I sit down, the body immediately relaxes and so does the mind. Same happens when I pay attention to the breath during daily life thingies.
Next to that, I've never been much of a social butterfly, but nowadays I find myself in silence and separation more and more. All sorts of things have changed due to meditation.

So, my answer is yes. I have the same experience as you when we are talking about something new being uncomfortable to begin with and comfortable after the 'getting-used-to-period'.
It's sort of encouraging, isn't it? Tells me that the mind really can do a lot, change a lot. :)

Not sure that this answers your question though.

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In martial arts, we are taught to visualize eyes on our toes, heels and feet, so that our feet can see where we are going and what is behind us.  My eyes see through shoes and boots, so it's more about intention than what we are wearing.

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Wow, thank you.  sadhu

Answer 1

Wearing or not wearing shoes/slippers will not speed you to enlightenment if that is what you are asking.  It's a personal preference for laypeople. Some people with thick soles prefer to walk barefooted. Some wear shoes to prevent unwanted injuries.

But if you become obsessed with shoes, just like any other material comfort in life, it can be a hindrance to your spiritual progress. Keep in mind that lay people are only expected to follow the five precepts on a regular basis.

Answer 2

It's not the shoes that should be of importance.

The main thing would be to notice your preference. Does it lead you to disliking (wearing) shoes? It's the liking and disliking that are the hindrances in your mind. Not the object you use to accomplish something, whether it's shoes, lamps, spoons, or whatever.

Hope it makes sense.

_/\_

Comments

It does make sense.  Thank you.
What I was getting at though was when we are taught walking meditation, we do so barefooted, with arms in a certain posture. When we are taught sitting meditation, we Are taught how to posture ourselves.  It has become a natural habit that I take into my daily life.  What started off as uncomfortable becomes comfortable....And so too does walking barefoot (plus you get to feel the ground and all it’s textures- something I realise I missed out of since birth due to shoes and socks)

In daily life, When I stand, I automatically stand with my hands clasped in front of me (as though grasping a begging bowl) - a habit/nature that came about from being postured in a retreat.  So I was wondering if meditation has changed anyone, in the same sense.

---

Lol.....

Yeah, preferences and habits change. The mind gets used to doing things a certain way, I guess.

In my case, I walk barefoot as much as possible. Have done that already before I ever meditated. In that sense, it's not new for me.
Sometimes, due to pain, I do have to wear shoes during walking meditation, and sticks to support the posture. Something I got used to as well after a while.
For me the sitting posture was more challenging. I'm not even able to do full lotus. Even so, it really was difficult and painful. Now, most of the time when I sit down, the body immediately relaxes and so does the mind. Same happens when I pay attention to the breath during daily life thingies.
Next to that, I've never been much of a social butterfly, but nowadays I find myself in silence and separation more and more. All sorts of things have changed due to meditation.

So, my answer is yes. I have the same experience as you when we are talking about something new being uncomfortable to begin with and comfortable after the 'getting-used-to-period'.
It's sort of encouraging, isn't it? Tells me that the mind really can do a lot, change a lot. :)

Not sure that this answers your question though.

---

In martial arts, we are taught to visualize eyes on our toes, heels and feet, so that our feet can see where we are going and what is behind us.  My eyes see through shoes and boots, so it's more about intention than what we are wearing.

---

Wow, thank you.  sadhu