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Walking Mediatation to Dhongra Caves

Thich Nhat Hanh · November 1, 1988 · Dhongra Caves, India · Monastic talk

Walking meditation is just walking, not thinking of arrival. Each step should be able to bring us happiness right now and here. We do not need to arrive at the place in order to be happy. Do not consider the walking as a means in order to arrive anywhere, or you sacrifice the walking itself. “There is no way to peace, peace is the way.” Therefore, the place we want to arrive is the very step itself. The secret is to enjoy each step.

The means are also the end. “There is no way to happiness; happiness is the way.” “There is no way to enlightenment; enlightenment is the way.” By making each mindful step, we realize enlightenment right here and now. The final destination is the cemetery, the direction of death. We want to go in the direction of life, which is the present moment, because life is contained only in the present moment.

Walking slowly helps us to realize the way of practice. We walk very slowly, and each half an hour, we will sit down, smile and breathe, and exchange happiness. There will be no talking, just breathing. As soon as we stand up and make steps, there will be no talking. There will only be smiling and breathing.