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Walking meditation plays an important role. We can use it as a mindfulness bridge, linking our sitting practice to our active, waking life. Sometimes it’s hard to move from mindfulness of sitting and bring it into the active world. Walking meditation is an active form of practice, reflecting how we live in the world. It allows us to move from the cushion and remain tapped into mindfulness. To have an active practice helps develop both our sitting and worldly mindfulness. In truth, they are different sides of the same coin.
The bell rings, echoing throughout the hall. You bow, and slowly, silently, stand up, still engaging in practice. The meditation continues, shifting only in form. You remain aware of your actions, breathing, and moving in harmony with your own rhythm. Slowly you turn, and start walking. In breath, left foot, out breath, right foot. For you, now, this is the whole world, in left, out right.
Continuing, you walk, breath and experience all the worldly sensations. You no longer know what direction you’re walking. Up or Down the Zendo? You also realise it doesn’t matter in this moment, that the answer is an illumination of thought. Your practice is to just walk, and just walk is what you do. Time again drops away, and you become the whole world, through left and right, in and out. Feeling everything in the body, through the body, in the feet, through the feet. Many eternities pass by and the chime rings again. You bow, return to your zafu and begin sitting again, a continuing of that which is.
(photo)
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Hi Wade,
This is a lovely post.
I wonder if mindfulness is compatible with a speed associated with aerobic benefit. I don’t see why not in theory but in practice all the mindfulness practices I’ve seen have been slow or stationery. Don’t really understand why this should be. Any ideas?
Thanks again.
Evan
Interesting indeed Wade. Especially cause I have found on my own practicing mindfulness while walking the hallways at work, or for that matter driving too. It is a different level of mindfulness that I can practice while driving for obvious safety reasons. So – I have started commuting on back country roads to work and back – rather than the highway! Now I have a peaceful drive, where I sometimes soak in deeply and relish everything that I am seeing and experiencing; and other times look inwards, focus on my breath and contemplate.
Walking meditation (cankama in Pali) was established by the Lord Buddha himself, according to the Pali Canon. It is a practice continued to this day in Theravada Buddhism, and has been promoted by many ajahns (teachers) in the Thai Forest Tradition. It is very much something that Theravada and Zen Buddhism share in common, despite any differences in style.
The Buddha is said to have liked to do cankama early in the morning, in the fresher air of the Indian dawn. Ajahn Chah, the famous Thai meditation master, encouraged his disciples to meditate all night once a week, alternating between sitting and walking meditation to evade drowsiness. And across the globe from California to New Zealand, from England to Australia, not to mention Thailand itself, monks, nuns & laity do walking meditation to cultivate mindfulness and concentration. (Myself included.)
As the Buddha is reported to have said, “Walk on!”
G at ‘Forest Wisdom’.
http://forestwisdom.blogspot.com
The form walks in the thoughts of mindfulness. This also helps me focus on my posture as well as relaxing into what is. It enhances our bond with the Divine that internal potential to return home.
If not, try it. It is an amazing process.
Have you noticed, when your walking, then stop and close your eyes. The hidden darkness of our blind site goes into reverse?!
BTW, I’ve lost the password to google docs., I haven’t given up on the search, I’ll give it two weeks. Ha!
ttyl
Love & Peace
i usually always walk and synchronize my steps with breathing, or my steps with the separation marks in the concrete, etc, creating (what i guess now since reading this post) was a form of meditation. cool.
@Evan, I’d imagine any walking is a good thing. It’s circulating blood, you get deeper fresh oxygen, and with walking mediation, you also have mindfulness. Meditation practice can be done anywhere any time. Meditation is a generally considered focused thought/awareness on any single point. Runners/Swimmers/Artists etc all work inside the freedom of mindfulness. I think it’d just be a practice thing, training to get there
I often run with mindfulness for a while, but find myself getting distracted due to the speed of my steps…..No limits 
@Jay, Great to hear you’ve got a driving mindfulness practice. Driving can be nourishing, peaceful, and pleasant, but most roads end up frustrating us instead. It’s great that your commute is working for you
@Gary, Thanks for the information from the Thai Forest/Theravadan side. I’m amazed by the overlap between Theravadan and Zen quite often. Thanks for making me smile again at another view of the same teaching
Walk on! indeed 
Also Congratulations on your Blogisattva nomination.
@Terry, Thanks for spinning things all around. The interesting balance between posture focus and relaxing into posture….. I have walked eyes closed before, it’s an amazing experience. I’ve also done Yoga a few times blind folded. Funny how you develop a trust in your body, and delve deeper, again by not doing. RE:BTW, let me know if you can’t get in, I can re-invite you….
@aj, Yup, you’re on the money
That’s walking meditation. It’s great that you found it through your own being, there’s a lot to be said about finding things and trusting in yourself. Great work.
May all beings be happy.
Gassho,
Wade