Editing Walking meditation

{{Short description|Buddhist meditative practice}}
[[Image:Kinhin.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Members of [[Kanzeon Zen Center]] during kinhin]]

'''Walking meditation''' ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 經行; [[Pinyin]]: ''jīngxíng''; [[Romanization of Japanese|Romaji]]: ''kinhin'' or ''kyōgyō''; [[Korean language|Korean]]: ''gyeonghyaeng''; [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]: ''kinh hành'') is a [[meditation]] practice done while [[walking]] common in [[Buddhism]]. It can be done as a standalone practice or as a break in between long periods of [[Zazen|sitting meditation]].{{sfn|Maezumi|Glassman|2002|pp=48-9}} In different forms, the practice is common in various traditions of both [[Theravada]] and in [[Mahayana|Mahayana Buddhism]]. The term ''kinhin'' consists of the Chinese words [[wikt:經|經]], meaning "to go through (like the thread in a loom)", with "[[sutra]]" as a secondary meaning, and [[wikt:行|行]], meaning "walk". Taken literally, the phrase means "to walk straight back and forth."

== Theravāda ==

In [[Theravada|Theravāda]] Buddhism, walking meditation is frequently performed in conjunction with seated meditation. Walking meditation is particularly emphasized in forest monastic traditions and in [[Vipassana movement|vipassana]] traditions, where meditators alternate between sitting and walking to sustain [[mindfulness]] and balance energy levels. In Theravāda, walking meditation involves walking a straight path back and forth, often around 20–30 steps in length. The meditator may walk slowly, placing attention on the sensations in the feet as they touch the ground. In the Vipassana movement traditions, the meditator silently notes the various walking sensations with phrases like "lifting", "moving", and "placing" (the foot). The goal is to develop [[Sati (Buddhism)|sati (mindfulness)]] by staying present with the act of walking. 

This practice cultivates concentration and calms restlessness while training the mind to observe phenomena without attachment or aversion. In Vipassanā, or insight meditation, walking is used to deepen awareness of impermanence ([[Impermanence (Buddhism)|anicca]]), suffering ([[Duḥkha|dukkha]]), and non-self ([[anattā]]). The sensations experienced while walking—such as the contact of the feet, the rise and fall of the body, or environmental sounds—are observed as fleeting and insubstantial. Walking meditation thus becomes a tool for observing the arising and passing of phenomena, leading to direct insight into the nature of reality.

== Mahāyāna ==
[[East Asian Buddhism|East Asian Mahāyāna Buddhism]] integrates walking meditation with devotional and [[Samadhi|samādhi]]-oriented practices. Among its many forms, devotional [[circumambulation]] and specific methods such as the [[Tiantai]] four samādhis, and the Pure Land practice of walking [[nianfo]] hold significant importance for specific traditions. In the Tiantai (Jp: [[Tendai]]) school, they follow the ''[[Mohe Zhiguan|Móhē zhǐguān]]'' of patriarch [[Zhiyi]] as the main meditation guide. This tradition practices two kinds of walking meditations: "Constantly Walking Samādhi" (''chángxíng sānmèi'' 常行三昧) which consists of 90 days of mindful walking and meditating on Amitabha and "Half-Walking Half-Seated Samādhi" (''bànxíng bànzuò sānmèi'' 半行半坐三昧) which includes numerous practices like chanting, penance, prayer, reciting the Lotus sutra, etc.<ref name="Qing">Fa Qing,[https://web.archive.org/web/20150524090134/http://elibrary.ibc.ac.th/files/public/2013seminabook.pdf The Śamatha and Vipaśyanā in Tian Tai], Poh Ming Tse Symposium 2013: One Master Three Meditative Traditions. Singapore, August 30, 2013; pp.30-47</ref> In the [[Pure Land Buddhism|Pure Land school]], there is a common practice of circumambulating a Buddha statue of Amitabha and reciting his name during [[nianfo]] retreats.<ref>Jones, Charles B. (2021). ''Pure Land: History, Tradition, and Practice.'' Shambhala Publications., pp. 198-210.</ref>

In [[Zen|Zen Buddhism]], kinhin is often done in between stretches of sitting meditation ([[zazen]]) as a break from prolonged sitting. The idea is to maintain the same meditative Zen mind throughout the walking period. Practitioners typically walk clockwise around the meditation hall or [[zendō]] while holding their hands in a gesture with one hand closed in a fist while the other hand grasps or covers the fist ({{zh|c=叉手|p=chā shǒu}}; [[Romanization of Japanese|rōmaji]]: ''shashu'').{{sfn|Aitken|1999|pp=35-6}} During walking meditation each step is taken after each full breath.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kinhin|url=http://www.emptybowlzendo.org/#/zen-practices/kinhin|publisher=Empty Bowl Zendo|access-date=April 1, 2015}}</ref> The pace of walking meditation can be either slow (several steady steps per each breath) or brisk, almost to the point of jogging.{{sfn|Aitken|1999|pp=35-6}}

==See also==
* [[Ānāpānasati]]
* [[Anussati]]
* [[Buddhist meditation]]
* [[Circumambulation]]
* [[Jarāmaraṇa]]
* [[Samatha]]
* [[Shikantaza]]
* [[Vipassanā]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*Smith, L. (2023). 28 Meditation Statistics: How Many People Meditate? The Good Body. https://www.thegoodbody.com/meditation-statistics/
*Team, M. (2022). How Many People Meditate? Mindworks Meditation. https://mindworks.org/blog/how-many-people-meditate/
*Wise, J. (2023). Meditation Statistics 2023: Popularity, Industry & Market Size - EarthWeb. EarthWeb. https://earthweb.com/meditation-statistics/#:~:text=Meditation%20Statistics%202023-,Approximately%20200%20to%20500%20million%20people%20across%20the%20globe%20partake,reduce%20school%20suspensions%20by%2045%25.

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |last=Aitken |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Baker Aitken |title=Taking the Path of Zen |pages=[https://archive.org/details/takingpathofzen00aitk/page/35 35–36] |year=1999 |publisher=North Point Press |isbn=0-86547-080-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/takingpathofzen00aitk/page/35 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Maezumi |first1=Hakuyu Taizan |last2=Glassman |first2=Bernie |author-link2=Tetsugen Bernard Glassman |author-link1=Taizan Maezumi |title=On Zen Practice: Body, Breath, Mind |publisher=[[Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition#Publications|Wisdom Publications]] |pages=48–49 |year=2002 |isbn= 086171315X }}
* {{cite news |last=Jin |first=Putai |title=Efficacy of Tai Chi, Brisk Walking, Meditation, and Reading In Reducing Mental and Emotional Stress }} [[doi:10.1016/0022-3999(92)90072-A|doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(92)90072-A]]
*Prakhinkit, Susaree "Effects of Buddhist Walking Meditation on glycemic control and vascular functions in patients with Type-2 Diabetes." ''Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine'' doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2016.03.009
*Prakhinkit, Susaree "Effects of Buddhism walking meditation on depression, functional fitness, and endothelium-dependent vasodilation in depressed elderly." ''Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine'', vol. 20, no. 5, 2014, doi.org/10.1089/acm.2013.0205
*Chatutain, Apsornsawan “Walking Meditation Promotes Ankle Proprioception and Balance Performance among Elderly Women.” doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2018.09.152
*Smith, Alison. “Walking Meditation: Being Present and Being Pilgrim on the Camino De Santiago.” ''Religions'', vol. 9, no. 3, 2018, p.&nbsp;82., doi:10.3390/rel9030082

{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Meditation|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Zen]]
[[Category:Buddhist meditation]]
[[Category:Walking]]
[[Category:Zazen]]