Walking with awareness A guide to Walking Meditation

part ii

by Luang Por Liem
Thitadhammo

Translated by
Thaniyo Bhikku

Most of us these days go through life, whether we are walking, standing, sitting, or looking at all the different things in the world and its various living beings, as if we are sleepwalking. We have no idea what we are doing, or in which direction we are headed. Our awakening will depend on whether we are able to walk with mindfulness. The future of all living beings on earth truly depends on the way that we take each step we take.

When walking meditation, please walk in a natural way. No need to keep the hands together at the chest, or maintain a rigorous posture. Choose a quiet and peaceful walking path in the forest, in a public park, on the bank of a river, or in a monastery or meditation centre.

You can practise at any time. Should anyone see you, they’ll know you are walking jong-grom, and they won’t disturb you. Anytime you encounter someone during your meditation, simply make a brief sign of respect, joining your hands and raising them to the chest, then carry on walking.

I used to walk jong-grom in the early morning and the evening, when I lived in the forest. The forest animals, my neighbouring friends, would come and call out when they saw me walking.

They weren’t familiar with the movements of one walking at ease, peaceful and quiet.

But, if I were to walk rapidly, they would simply think, ‘That’s something normal,’ and pay no further attention.

Most of us these days go through life, whether we are walking, standing, sitting, or looking at all the different things in the world and its various living beings, as if we are sleepwalking.

We have no idea what we are doing, or in which direction we are headed. Our awakening will depend on whether we are able to walk with mindfulness. The future of all living beings on earth truly depends on the way that we take each step we take.

“One who traces the footsteps of his heart will escape from Mara’s snare.”

Walking jong-grom can open our eyes and ears to the wonders of the universe, and change the world into a place of peace and joy. It can help us to end suffering, sorrow, sadness and worries, and bring us the happiness of peace.

Walking for awakening

In the same way, it can enable us to see the suffering in life. If we can’t see that which arises before and all around us, how can we expect to see our own nature?

Seeing our own nature is not likely to come about through closing our eyes.

On the contrary, we must open our eyes and awaken to the true nature of the way things really are in the world.

Opening our eyes will enable us to see nature within ourselves, and our own inner Buddha-nature: awakening.

The hardships of poverty and the allure of wealth; even the power that these things can hold over us cannot separate us from our own essential nature.

Walking paths shaded with leafy trees, and others with lovely coverings of fallen leaves, these are the jong-grom paths that lie ahead of us. We should take full joy in these meditation paths. They won’t lead us astray. While walking, we will observe and take note, awakening to the true suffering of the world.

Every walkway in this world can be a walking meditation path for us. As we awaken, we will not hesitate to walk upon these paths at all.

Doesn’t our anguish in life merely arise from doubts, hesitation, and worry? Awakening to the suffering of our fellow beings, we feel nothing for one another but kindness and compassion, just like a Bodhisattva.

Breathing with mindfulness is different to ordinary breathing. To breathe with mindfulness means that as we breathe, we know that we’re breathing. When we breathe in long, we know - we are breathing in long. When we breathe in short, we know - we are breathing in short. When we breathe in a subtle breath, we know - we are breathing in a subtle breath. How can we focus on breathing and walking at the same time?

Breathing with mindfulness

One way is to combine the breathing and the walking together using a counting technique. We can count the number of steps we take. Or, to put it another way, we can measure the length of our breath according to the number of steps: how many steps do we take as we are breathing in? And how many steps do we take as we are breathing out?

Do this for some time - for a number of weeks. Give it a try - test it out. Slow down your steps, but not too much, and breathe normally. Don’t try to lengthen your breathing. Try this out for a period, then begin to take note: as you breathe in, how many steps are there?

Using this method, our attention is on our breathing and our walking at the same time, and we develop a close connection to the peacefulness and clarity of our walking and our breathing. This increases our attentiveness, peacefulness, serenity and happiness. It calms and refines the objects of our attention.

This is awakening.
This is knowledge.
And this is wisdom.

(Courtesy Fearless Mountain)