Walking meditation or cankama is to walk back and forth with awareness. It is a simple practice, just walking back and forth while being fully aware of walking. Plan a walking path of about eight to twelve paces long. Hold the arms across the chest, or clasp the hands behind the back. Practitioners then start walking meditation. The technique involves being aware of each foot as it is walking, but do not contemplate it. Practitioners may look around as they walk along the path if they have tension. However, they must not forget to be aware of the feet as they are walking. In daily life, practitioners can develop sati, for example, when sitting on a bus or boat. They can turn the palm up and down, move the hand, stretch the hand or run the thumb over the fingertips. Be aware of the movement of blinking eyes, breathing, swallowing, Saliva and other physical elements.
In summary, practitioners are to be aware of any movement in accordance with the experience of the actual movement.
Seeing the Thought
Practitioners cultivate awareness continually until they have more and more awareness, and more and more steadiness of mind (Samadhi). Then they can start practising to see the thought that is arising as in sitting or walking meditation. They are aware of the thought that has arisen and detach from it.
There are two kinds of thought: intended thought and untended thought. The intended thought does not cause suffering. It is used in reading, working etc. in daily life. On the other hand, unintended thought causes suffering. Practitioners should be aware of the later thought and should not attach to it. Unintended thought brings about suffering because it is based on Moha (delusion). Moha is the cause of suffering.
The way to react to unintended thought is to develop sati.
The way to react to unintended thought is to develop sati.
Therefore, there is a need to cultivate our awareness all the time. Practitioners see the thought when it arises until they can see the source of thought and detach from the thought. Practise until the external sense fields and the internal sense fields can work naturally without mental formations. It brings about the end of suffering which is the state of enlightenment.
Related documents in the series:
Walking Meditation Guides from Different Meditation Masters:
Walking Meditation - Luang Por Teean Jittasubho
Walking Meditation Guide - Buddhadasa Bhikkhu
Walking Stage Practice - Mahasi Sayadaw Shin Sobhana
Walking Practice - Luang Phu Mun
