nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyd968gmewwp6kyqpqrz2fvfjm7g6x0dad2hrazgk78j7hm3mngsxa9fzjdutrx78rrmesgsncyj (nprofile…ncyj) - I don't mind you asking at all!
So, for one, meditation isn't always about clearing your head or being relaxing. It absolutely can be, if that's the approach and goal. But for me, meditation can often be exhausting, lol! (again depending on what my specific goal is for that session)
For example, there are several methodologies and goals of various meditation techniques. To name a couple, there's Mindfulness Meditation, Loving Kindness Meditation, Vipassana Meditation, Zen Meditation / Sitting Zazen, and so many more.
You can think of meditation as a workout or exercise for your mind. Just like in physical exercise, there can be somatic movements that calm the body and there can be high intensity interval training that pushes the body, so too can there be different mind exercises and meditations.
Okay.
So where does Walking Meditation come into this?
One type of Walking Meditation is an extension of Mindfulness Meditation. Mindfulness Meditation is a foundational meditation that has the goal of just observing what your mind and body are doing in that moment. You're not trying to change anything. You're just being mindful of what things are as they are.
Further, you're often bringing your mind back into the present (as opposed to thinking about the future or remembering the past). One way to do that is using an "anchor" such as the breath to bring your focus back. So as your mind wanders, you note that you're thinking, you set down that thinking, and then bring the focus back to the breath.
This trains the mind to be able to move focus around. it's like building a muscle.
Mindful Walking Meditation does the same thing, but instead of using the breath, you're using the body's movements. So as you walk, you focus on your legs moving, your feet touching the ground, the immediate surroundings of your walk, etc. As your mind starts to wander, you note that you are thinking, set down the thought for the moment, and then bring the focus back to the immediate present and on your body walking and touching the ground.
The goal here is to transition from the exercise into your daily life. So, sure, you can be mindful of the moment when you're not doing anything active and sitting down and focusing on your breath, but what about being mindful when you're driving a car or riding a bike or washing the dishes or talking with your loved ones?
Walking Meditation is an exercise that lets you develop methods to be mindful as you are active and transitions from a sitting meditation into bringing meditation and being in the present in all aspects of life.
#Buddhism #Meditation
