Walking Meditation

       by Stanley Peele

Many people feel they cannot meditate because their homes are too hectic, or because they have too many things on their mind, or are in a hospital, nursing home or prison, or they are handicapped.  Yet, in truth, each of these things is more of a reason to meditate. The more restricted you are, the more reason to meditate.  Try this.

    Get centered; that is, go inside to a still place.  There is a place of stillness inside each of us.  If there are interruptions, bless each one.  Notice your body; notice your feelings in each part of your body. Breathe.  Breathe.  Breathe evenly and naturally.  If you are able to stand, do so.  If you are in a wheelchair, sit up in the wheelchair with your back straight.

     Now, feel your feet on the floor.  (If you are in a wheelchair, this meditation is easier, not harder.  Feel your hands on the wheels.) Breath again.  Stand (sit) straight, eyes straight ahead, alert, aware of all feelings and sounds.  Relax.   Feel yourself fully on the earth.

     Next say a short prayer to your Beloved, a prayer of thanks, fully desiring to follow the guidance of your Higher Power:  "Thy will be done."  Now begin to walk (roll), feeling each step.  Notice the feeling as you foot meets the floor (notice each bump or movement of the wheel).  If there is an interruption, notice the interruption, make the interruption a part of the meditation, no matter how loud or noisy the interruption is.  Inside, you are calm.  At peace.  See the peace reach out and surround the noise.  Bless the noise.  Then ignore it.

     It is best to walk in a circle.  Outside is best.  If this is not possible, a short walk, back and forth. A cell is excellent.  Walk at the speed at which you are fully present in your body.  As you walk, visualize your body functioning, each organ working, every part of the body happily doing its assigned task, each part of the body away of all the other parts of the body.  If extraneous worries come into your mind, notice them, recognize them, bless them, say, "I know you, you are a thought." -- Then allow the thought to disappear, like a cloud in the sky.  When there are interruptions, do not become frazzled or angry.  Learn not only to deal with interruptions, but to bless them.  The walking meditation can last for 20 minutes, or whatever is possible.

     You can meditate upon waking, going to sleep, eating, listening to someone who is angry. When you do work, or chores, you can consider that an unpleasant thing -- or you can use repetitive work as a meditation.  If you learn to meditate, you can do it while in the dentist's chair.  And as you learn this, people will come to you, look at you, and wonder how you stay so peaceful.   They will come up to you just to be in your presence.

     All life can become a meditation.