What's the benefit of walking meditation?

[puppha]

Dear All,

What's the benefit of walking meditation? Especially compared to sitting vipassana.
For me, it's a bit easier to concentrate during walking meditation, but it seems to lead to less insights...

Comments welcome!

With Metta

[rowboat]

Replying here only from my personal understanding, not from the suttas, teachings, or from any significant insight. I find that walking meditation will effectively dispel the more torporous states of concentration that can develop when sitting meditation is actually starting to work, where one's enthusiasm for having more concentration can easily lead to states of *wrong* concentration. Personally it was walking meditation that got me past a major physical hindrance in the form of tinnitus, or a constant ringing in my left ear. Also, of an even more practical concern, if you've ever tried to sit for very long periods, then you will notice that switching to walking meditation really seems to open the windows, allows fresh air, sunlight into the room, metaphorically speaking.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

See this short article by Sayādaw U Sīlānanda — The Benefits of Walking Meditation

Read what Sayādaw U Pandita says about Walking Meditation:

Walking meditation develops balance and accuracy of awareness as well as durability of concentration. One can observe very profound aspects of the Dhamma while walking, and even get enlightened! In fact a yogi who does not do walking meditation before sitting is like a car with a rundown battery. He or she will have a difficult time starting the engine of mindfulness when sitting.

Ajahn Chah used to look at the walking path outside his monk's kutis — if they were not well worn he knew they were being negligent in their practise. Ajahn Mun was also a diligent practitioner of walking meditation.

In my personal experience, the best insights came from walking, not sitting. In Burma, its very hot and humid. Sitting for long hours is tough. Walking continuously for long periods is not difficult. Continuous mindfulness leads to insights.

Famous examples from the Buddha's time are Venerable Ānanda who gained Arahantship after striving in walking practice for the whole night. Realising that he needed to balance the faculties, he went to lay down on his couch. Between sitting down and before his head touched the pillow, he passed through all three stages of the Path — Once-Returner, Non-Returner, and Arahant.

Venerable Moggallāna also practised walking relentlessly from the time of his ordination, until finally gaining Arahantship while sitting.

[Cittasanto]

Try this search result

[marc108]

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... ml#walking

[puppha]

Dear All,

Many thanks for your coments and links, that's very interesting.

With Metta

[piotr]

Hi,

There's a sutta which lists five benefits of walking meditation: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

[Pacific]

On a long private retreat recently, I found walking meditation to be far more beneficial FOR ME (not necessarily for YOU) than any sitting I did. I did a lot of walking and I recommend it it you particularly find you live "in your head" so much that sitting can get a bit "messy". Both my teacher and my (buddhist) therapist recommended this to me over sitting and they were right in that i had more benefit than just sitting alone