Author Topic: Walking meditation.  (Read 3138 times)

Thanisaro85

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  • When thoughts, sensations, feelings arise,know it
    • Reverend father Jaran, Pramote. Theravada
    • Still breathing.
Walking meditation.
« on: December 07, 2018, 01:52:31 AM »
I just read this book recently and hope to share . Below paragraphs are extracted from a book, the law of karma, dharma practise 2. The book is circulated and printed for free distribution. But if this post is not allowed due , pls remove the post.

Due to the fact that this standing and walking meditation is difficult to practise, you have to develop the proper rythm. When you accumulate proper experience, wisdom will arise

Start the word "stand...." at the crwon of your head, st the same time set your mindfulness downward to your navel. This is how the human body looks! Then, from your navel with the phase"...ing" towards your toes. Concentrate here for a short while before going on to the new cycle of "standing". Do not start the next cycle without a pause.

The first cycle may not be clear, in the second cycle, your mindfulness is initially concentrated at your toes. With the word "stand...", note upward to your navel, and "....ing" from the navel up to your crown.

The 3rd cycle will be clear "stand...." towards your navel. Set your nindfulness to follow the mind that is traveling to the navel. Then you should note "....ing" from the navel to the toes. Pause there in order to obtain the proper rhythm. In the 5th cycle where the consciousness is end at the toes, Open your eyes and look at the toes while you are controlling mindfulness before you start walking meditation as the next step

The 4th cycle and 5th cycle should be clearer. If the meditators do not understand these points and say quickly " standing", the mind will travel too fast for the mindfulness to follow. Concentration( samadhi) will not develop.


Note or say " right" while you are lifting your right heel, you should be awarw of what you are doing at the present moment. Note " step..." while your right foots nove forward and touches the ground. if you can observe the state of your mind, you will know where and how it flashes or how it ends. The new mind will show us how the new mind occurs. This is how the mind arises and ceases.

If you practise too fast, you will not be able to see the nature of mind while it is in the dhamma state.

Continue walking slowly. You will eventually know whether "right" and" left" are the same or not,  you will be able to answer this by yourself. The next thing you will realise whether the mind that note right and left are the same or not. Are they similar? They are not the same.  ]After the mind ceases, the new mind arises at the moment. Your mindfulness will tell that the left is lifted at that moment. This is how the mindfulness notes the mind.when mindfulness keeps up with the present moment, wisdom arises. You will realise the dhamma state and can practise with ease.

Diring meditation, there will be vedana( feelings, sensation,i.e pleasant feeling and painful feeling) that exists in everybody. It is a lesson that we should learn. You can improve your mindfulness by observing or acknowledgeing vedana. You will know how it arises, exists and ceases. Then you will know how to to solve the problem of suffering, painfulness,etc.

During walkling meditation,you may feel dizzy or light-headed. You should note and acknowledge the feeling. The mind can flash into deep concentration while you are walking. But you may not realise that it is a state of concentration. You may think that it is one kind of feeling or sensation that makes you faint, and evetually you may discontinue practising at that moment. In fact , you are not fainting, but the concentration that is the result of the walking meditation causes this kind of lightness. You should come to a standstill, note the feeling until it disappear before continuing.  It is very important to "note" any vedana arises during meditation, this is mindfulness.

After walking meditation, practitioners should continue with sitting meditation, and do not loose mindfulness in the transition from walking to sitting, every little body gestures changing from walking to sitting meditation should be note and be mindful, do not break the continuous mindfulness.

If you practises correctly with continuous schedule without concerning your world matter for at least 7 days, you will be able to note the mind at each moment is different because it flashes after you have finished noting. The new mind will appear in the same way as a flurorescene buld that emits light, alternating between positive and negative current, but appearing to shine continuously. The procedure is so fast that we cannot see it. But if you are able to see it, how a new mind is arises, exists and ceases every moment, you will not hold on to it, you can just let it go easily.

You need to practises continuously for at least 7 days with no involvement of other worldy matters, without continuity, the mindfulness wont substained and the clear mind will not be seen, the most you can achieve is moment of tranquillity that last only mins to hrs. You cant do it one day, rest a day, and continue the day after rest. You cant reap result with such schedule. A lot people go for a retreat for 7 days , 10days. After the retreat, they did not continue practising earnestly at home, some continue their heedless life style. How could they benefits from meditations? Their life messed up again because they can't "note" anger until it ceases when it arises, they can't note depressed until it ceases when it arises. So how does it helps to end your suffering if you don't practises correctly and persistently. I leave it to you to consider this point.......》

PS: i have omitted some paragraphs in between since some are repeated but phrase differently.


As of these moment, i am still struggling with walking meditation, i can't seem to "note" or catch the new mind arising and ceasing. I felt sleepy after a few round of walking to and fro, and  i did not manage to reach the calm state of mind that can be experiences from sitting.

A Mind Unshaken, when touches by worldy matter, sorrowless, secure and dustless, this is the ultimate great blessing~ Mangala Sutta

Nicky

  • Member
    • Pali
Re: Walking meditation.
« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2018, 12:55:34 PM »
These instructions are non-sense. How can something so complicated bring peace? When practising walking meditation, simply walk back & forth (on a defined path with two defined end points), like you are seeking nothing. Just relax and walk; aware of the mind; simply keeping the mind clear & letting go of any tensions or agitations that arise. Say walking meditation is for 30 minutes. Just simply walk back & forth for 30 minutes; with the primary task of being 'at ease'. If it feels right, at the end of the walking track, do some standing meditation. Just stand at ease, relaxed, allowing the mind to naturally connect with the in & out breathing. Standing meditation is actually an 'easy' posture for meditation because it easier to practise awareness of breathing. Just let go & allow the mind to sink into the breathing. Stand still, rest & be at ease.

Middleway

  • Member
  • Just be a witness.
    • Vipassana as taught by Mr. Goenka - Switched to Shamatha
Re: Walking meditation.
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2018, 06:35:46 PM »
As of these moment, i am still struggling with walking meditation, i can't seem to "note" or catch the new mind arising and ceasing. I felt sleepy after a few round of walking to and fro, and  i did not manage to reach the calm state of mind that can be experiences from sitting.

Just keep at it. When the mindfulness becomes steady, it becomes a stream of awareness. This can also be termed as witnessing. When you witness, you create a space between yourself and events that are happening in space-time. Just witness your walking and standing and also observe the firing of the mind I.e watch with detachment the body-mind in action while walking and standing.

Hope this helps.
Take everything I say with a grain of salt.

Thanisaro85

  • Member
  • When thoughts, sensations, feelings arise,know it
    • Reverend father Jaran, Pramote. Theravada
    • Still breathing.
Re: Walking meditation.
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2018, 01:21:04 PM »

[/quote]

Just keep at it. When the mindfulness becomes steady, it becomes a stream of awareness. This can also be termed as witnessing. When you witness, you create a space between yourself and events that are happening in space-time. Just witness your walking and standing and also observe the firing of the mind I.e watch with detachment the body-mind in action while walking and standing.

Hope this helps.
[/quote]

Thank you for the advise....i will observe this....
A Mind Unshaken, when touches by worldy matter, sorrowless, secure and dustless, this is the ultimate great blessing~ Mangala Sutta

 

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