Famous for his humble nature, his affinity for creation, stigmata, and the founding of the largest religious order in the Catholic Church... this saint was almost ALWAYS barefoot. Not necessarily because he didn't like shoes, but because every time someone would give him a pair, he would soon run into someone without them... and he would give them away.
"Francis' brotherhood included all of God's creation. Much has been written about Francis' love of nature but his relationship was deeper than that. We call someone a lover of nature if they spend their free time in the woods or admire its beauty. But Francis really felt that nature, all God's creations, were part of his brotherhood. The sparrow was as much his brother as the pope.
In one famous story, Francis preached to hundreds of birds about being thankful to God for their wonderful clothes, for their independence, and for God's care. The story tells us the birds stood still as he walked among him, only flying off when he said they could leave.
Another famous story involves a wolf that had been eating human beings. Francis intervened when the town wanted to kill the wolf and talked the wolf into never killing again. The wolf became a pet of the townspeople who made sure that he always had plenty to eat."
It is Francis' love of nature and his simplicity of life that I have always found solace in. His mystical experiences, his understanding of the gospels, and his complete Unconditional Compassion (the man would kiss lepers!) should remind us all of the Grace in which we are called to live. Because he was right... "Francis and his companions went out to preach two by two. At first, listeners were understandably hostile to these men in rags trying to talk about God's love. People even ran from them for fear they'd catch this strange madness! And they were right. Because soon these same people noticed that these barefoot beggars wearing sacks seemed filled with constant joy. They celebrated life. And people had to ask themselves: Could one own nothing and be happy? Soon those who had met them with mud and rocks, greeted them with bells and smiles."
The spoiled prince turned mendicant mystic, Siddhartha Gautama walked pretty much everywhere barefoot... and much like Francis, embraced the simple life. There is even a place where you can go and step in imprints, said to be his footprints. Which is pretty cool. Gautama's humility is another of great respect, when asked if he was a god, he replied "no". When asked if he was the savior, he replied "no". When asked what he was... he simply said, "Awake". And the sanskrit word for awake is, "Buddha".
"Just before the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, realized enlightenment, it is said the demon Mara attacked him with armies of monsters to frighten Siddhartha from his seat under the bodhi tree. But the about-to-be Buddha did not move. Then Mara claimed the seat of enlightenment for himself, saying his spiritual accomplishments were greater than Siddhartha's. Mara's monstrous soldiers cried out together, "I am his witness!" Mara challenged Siddhartha--who will speak for you? Then Siddhartha reached out his right hand to touch the earth, and the earth itself roared, "I bear you witness!" Mara disappeared. And as the morning star rose in the sky, Siddhartha Gautama realized enlightenment and became a Buddha.
This story is the essence of Barefoot Zen. The truth that we are not independent beings, and that we rely on the rest of existence for our very lives." Buddha knew this connection very well, and developed the concept of Anatman (no-self) based on it. It is due to this that the 4 noble truths and the 8 fold path were created... and in turn the 5, 8, and 10 Precepts. The 5 Precepts are generally used for lay-persons, the 8 used for lay-persons wanting a stricter rule, and 10 for monastics following even stricter guidelines. Each of these sets of precepts have the first in common, and it gives us a glimpse into Buddha's understanding of this "connection". In Pali, it reads... Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi. Which translates to "I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking life." Or more simply... I vow to not kill (human or non-human).
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To Be Continued...
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St. Francis of Assisi : http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=50
Barefoot Zen - What is "No-Shoes Mind" : http://www.barefootism.com/barefootzen/noshoesmind.html
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I love it! :)
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