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Lotus Flowers Bloom Beneath Each Step – Mindfulness in Every Step
Walking meditation is as important as Sitting Meditation; it helps blood circulation, prevents numb legs, and allows us to get in touch with the freshness of nature. In Plum Village, we have listening meditation, speaking meditation, Touching the Earth, breathing meditation, walking meditation, Eating Meditation, and tea meditation. We need determination to practice in every step we take to tame the “monkey mind and wild horse,” transforming the wild horse in our mind into a tame one. We need to invest 100% of our body and mind into each step to cause a refreshing breeze to rise and a lotus flower to bloom (Step by step the refreshing breeze rises, Step by step the lotus blooms). When walking, coordinate your breathing with the number of steps; if you are carried away by the ghost of forgetfulness, use your breathing or take refuge in a person walking solidly to return.
Walking meditation complements Sitting Meditation, helping us embrace our pain and suffering like a mother holding her baby with the energy of mindfulness. We can ask for supporting mindfulness from a Dharma friend to become more solid. We should not complain and turn others into garbage bins; instead, we must store up the firewood of happiness for the winters of our life. Every day is a gift of 24 brand new hours; we need to walk in mindfulness instead of wandering around in suffering. The story of Angulimala reminds us about stopping: The Buddha has stopped his wandering; it is only living beings who have not yet stopped.
We do not need to jostle to buy plane tickets to India to find the Buddha, because we can hold the Buddha’s hand and practice walking meditation right in the present moment using the substance of mindfulness. The Buddha is pristine love; to find the Buddha is to find oneself. Besides walking meditation, Touching the Earth is also an important practice for repentance and for helping afflictions and karmic obstacles fall away. There are different ways to practice:
- One step, one prostration.
- Three steps, one prostration.
- Seven steps, one prostration.
