Mindful Walking

Peace is every step

Wherever we are, we can practice mindful walking. This means that we are present with each step. You don’t have to make any effort during walking meditation, because it is enjoyable. With every step, you touch the wonders of life that are in you and around you. Look around and see how vast life is, the trees, the white clouds, the limitless sky. Listen to the birds. Feel the fresh breeze.

When we walk like that, every step is nourishing and healing. Every step brings peace and joy, because every step is a miracle. The real miracle is not to fly or walk on water. The real miracle is to walk on the Earth, and you can perform that miracle anytime just by bringing your mind home to your body.

To start, we can practice taking two or three steps for each in-breath and each out-breath. We may recite the following as we walk:

Breathing in “I have arrived”; Breathing out “I am home”
Breathing in “In the here”; Breathing out “In the now”
Breathing in “I am solid”; Breathing out “I am free”
Breathing in “In the ultimate”; Breathing out “I dwell”