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Active Meditation
James G. Lochtefeld wrote this active meditation article. -------------------------- Active Meditation IntroductionThe most common "action" meditation is walking meditation. As with breathing, walking is something that we do all the time, and hence something we often do without paying much conscious attention. In most cases, this walking meditation involves walking back and forth on a well-defined path - some piece of reasonably flat ground where one can walk in a straight line for 30-50 feet. The early Buddhist texts instruct one to remove any stones, roots, or other obstructions that might trip one up, and to smooth the pathway itself, but this was written for monks living at the boundaries of settled society, and most contemporary Americans have access to lawns. Since one walks back and forth on this path, the pathway should have some sort of demarcated "beginning" and "end" (although in theory, this could be a chalk line on a driveway or sidewalk). Active Meditation PracticeStarting at one end of the walking pathway, and walk to the other end. Turn around, and walk back to beginning. Repeat and repeat. Whereas sitting meditation concentrates on the breath, here the focus is on observing the process of walking. While walking one's attention is much centered on one's legs and feet, and the arms either hang naturally, or with the hands clasped in front of the waist. When one is lifting up a foot, one should be aware that one is lifting up one's foot; when one is putting down one's foot, one should be aware that one is putting it down, and when one is turning, be aware that one is turning. This too sounds much easier than it actually is, since this attempt to focus and clear the mind (by focusing on the one's actions alone) will probably generate all sorts of thoughts and feelings. This walking meditation is an exercise in what Buddhists call "mindfulness," (the ability to focus one's awareness on one's immediate surroundings), and "Right Mindfulness" is one of the parts in the Buddha's Eightfold Path. In the Zen Buddhist tradition, which gives primary attention to immediate experience, many sorts of activities came to be used as "action meditations" - drinking tea, archery, calligraphy, sword training, flower arranging, and the martial arts. In theory, any activity could be the focus for meditation, since the ideal was to cultivate this sort of awareness in every part of everyday life. -------------------------- James G. Lochtefeld's Buddhist Meditation article (copied above) also includes information on mindfulness and silent meditation. |
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