[11] Then the Blessed One, having dwelt at Rājagaha for as long as he wished, set out on a walking tour toward Bārāṇasī. Walking on tour by stages, he arrived at Bārāṇasī. There the Blessed One dwelt at Bārāṇasī, in the Deer Park at Isipatana.
Now at that time the bhikkhus of the group of six, thinking, "Wooden shoes have been prohibited by the Blessed One," had young palmyra trees cut down and wore shoes made of palmyra leaves. Those young palmyra trees, being cut, withered. People complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, have young palmyra trees cut down and wear shoes made of palmyra leaves? The young palmyra trees, being cut, wither. The ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, are harming life (jīva) possessed of one faculty."
Bhikkhus heard those people complaining, criticizing, and spreading it about. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that the bhikkhus of the group of six had young palmyra trees cut down and are wearing shoes made of palmyra leaves, and that those young palmyra trees, being cut, wither?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How, bhikkhus, can those foolish men have young palmyra trees cut down and wear shoes made of palmyra leaves? Those young palmyra trees, being cut, wither. For, bhikkhus, people perceive that there is life (jīva) in a tree. This, bhikkhus, is not for the confidence of those without confidence …" Having rebuked them and given a talk on the Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, shoes made of palmyra leaves are not to be worn. Whoever should wear them commits an offense of wrongdoing (dukkaṭa)."
Now at that time the bhikkhus of the group of six, thinking, "Shoes made of palmyra leaves have been prohibited by the Blessed One," had young bamboos cut down and wore shoes made of bamboo leaves. Those young bamboos, being cut, withered. People complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, have young bamboos cut down and wear shoes made of bamboo leaves? Those young bamboos, being cut, wither. The ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, are harming life possessed of one faculty."
Bhikkhus heard those people complaining, criticizing, and spreading it about. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. … "Bhikkhus, shoes made of bamboo leaves are not to be worn. Whoever should wear them commits an offense of wrongdoing."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.