Preparation for Walking Meditation In Buddha

1. Preparation for Walking Meditation

In Buddha 

First, you must prepare a path for the walking. It should be approximately one
meter in width and about fifteen meters in length. The surface of the path should
be leveled so that you can walk with ease and be spared from anything that will
cause anxiety. Before you start walking, proceed to one end of the path and stand
facing the opposite end. Join the palms of both hands together and raise them to
chest level or between the eyebrows, silently recite the following:

I am going to do a walking meditation as a token of reverence for the Buddha,
his teachings and his holy disciples. I extend this reverence to my father,
mother, teachers, mentors, and those who give supports. Let me be blessed
with mindfulness, calmness, and insight into the truth the way it really is.
May all the merits that arise from this walking meditation befall upon all living
creatures, be they humans or non-humans. May all creatures live peacefully and
blessed with the fruits of these merits of their own volition.

When you finish with the praying, lower the hands down but still holding the left
hand with the right hand. Stand erect with your head slightly bowed in a thoughtful
stance. Concentrate your mind on something that is neutral, meaning that you must
try hard not to let your mind be swayed toward anything that you like or dislike.
One mean to teach the mind to stay neutral is to make it focus its concentration on
the task of walking meditation. Discard any thoughts of anything outside of
yourself that will distract the mind from staying neutral. Then proceed to
concentrate on uttering of mantra-words in your mind.


[Mantra-words are uttered silently or loudly while you are breathing in and out. It
is a mean to occupy the mind with a certain object so it will not think of anything
else.]


Application of Mantra-Words
With determination, focus your concentration on breathing the air in deeply while thinking

… BUD (พุธ) ...

With determination, focus your concentration on breathing the air out deeply while thinking

… DHO (โธ) ...

With determination, focus your concentration on breathing the air in deeply while thinking

… DHAM (ธัม) ...

With determination, focus your concentration on breathing the air out deeply while thinking

… MO (ธัม) ...

With determination, focus your concentration on breathing the air in deeply while thinking

… SANG (สัง) ...

With determination, focus your concentration on breathing the air out deeply while thinking

… KHO (โฆ) ...

[Bud-dho, Dham-mo, Sang-kho are popular mantra-words that are used by practitioners in Thailand. They mean the Buddha, his teachings and his holy disciples. You can choose any other words to suit your liking.]

Repeat the whole thing three to seven times or as many times as you like. This is a mean to bring in the Buddha, his teachings and the holy disciples into your mind.

After that, use only the mantra-words ‘Bud’ and ‘Dho’ alone, and proceed with the walking...