Episode 167 – The Power of Walking

Walking meditation is often introduced in the context of group practice: you’re sitting and a gong rings, and then you stand up and begin walking; then another gong rings and you go back to sitting  •  this brings up a couple of interesting things  •  how do we transition from one state to another without losing it and needing to regroup on some subtle level?  •  we are brought face to face with the challenge of having a more continuous sense of mindfulness and awareness, rather than turning it on and turning it off  •  the group aspect also brings up how easy it is to be in our practice bubble, and not really be aware of those around us or the environment in which we’re practicing  •  it also brings in a relational aspect: when you are walking in a circle, there’s someone in front of you and someone behind you  •  they may be wearing funny clothes, or they may be going faster or slower than you’d like  •  you have to coordinate what you’re doing with others, so there’s a relational aspect that has a rich texture  •  another important and inspiring aspect of walking meditation is how it’s connected with going beyond our own concerns, with making gestures of peace in the midst of war-torn worlds  •  training in walking meditation can help us to be able to touch in with the force of peace, even in the midst of struggle and chaos and suffering.