Monks and Exercise

A place to discuss health and fitness, healthy diets. A fit body makes for a fit mind.
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Viscid
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Monks and Exercise

Post by Viscid »

I'm curious-- do monasteries ever encourage their monks to exercise, or do monks ever take the initiative to exercise? Would this be discouraged considering they'd likely eat more?

Do prostrations count as exercise?
"What holds attention determines action." - William James
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Goofaholix
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Re: Monks and Exercise

Post by Goofaholix »

Viscid wrote:I'm curious-- do monasteries ever encourage their monks to exercise, or do monks ever take the initiative to exercise? Would this be discouraged considering they'd likely eat more?

Do prostrations count as exercise?
At the monastery where I ordained we walked down the mountain 5km each morning to go on Pindhabhat in the village below... lookshury.

At Wat pah nanachat the Pindhabhats are usually about an hour long.

Thai forest monks can walk for long distances when on Tudong.

Many Burmese monks spend a considerable portion of the day doing walking meditation.

A lot of monks do yoga.

It's not all about just sitting on your butt.
Pronouns (no self / not self)
“Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering. Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.”
― Ajahn Chah
meindzai
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Re: Monks and Exercise

Post by meindzai »

I've observed the same as Goofaholix at the monastery's that I've visited - lots of walking and maybe yoga. I would also mention that at least these days monks will often engage in a fair amount of labor which can be physically demanding.

Teacher Gil Fronsdal believes that if the Buddha knew what kind of sedentary lifestyles we led nowadays we might have had a ninefold path including "right exercise." I have to say I agree with him on that.

-M
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Ceisiwr
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Re: Monks and Exercise

Post by Ceisiwr »

meindzai wrote:I've observed the same as Goofaholix at the monastery's that I've visited - lots of walking and maybe yoga. I would also mention that at least these days monks will often engage in a fair amount of labor which can be physically demanding.

Teacher Gil Fronsdal believes that if the Buddha knew what kind of sedentary lifestyles we led nowadays we might have had a ninefold path including "right exercise." I have to say I agree with him on that.

-M

Thats an interesting thought


I have noticed that when I work out it helps improve my generally mindfulness and meditation practice
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
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Viscid
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Re: Monks and Exercise

Post by Viscid »

clw_uk wrote:I have noticed that when I work out it helps improve my generally mindfulness and meditation practice
Yeah, I find it really helps to keep you attentive and alert during sits, and stops your mind from monkeying about too much. In fact, I do physical exercise for mental health almost more than I do it for physical health: helps with mood, self-confidence and tiredness.
"What holds attention determines action." - William James
meindzai
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Re: Monks and Exercise

Post by meindzai »

Viscid wrote:
clw_uk wrote:I have noticed that when I work out it helps improve my generally mindfulness and meditation practice
Yeah, I find it really helps to keep you attentive and alert during sits, and stops your mind from monkeying about too much. In fact, I do physical exercise for mental health almost more than I do it for physical health: helps with mood, self-confidence and tiredness.
Yeah. This is pretty much the whole basis for yoga as far as I can tell, a point which has been lost in the more jock-like modern presentations.

-M
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