Kinhin - Walking Meditation

When a group gets together for Zen practice, you sit for 2-3 periods of meditation alternating with 5-10 minutes of walking meditation. There is a Kinhin leader who will start the group practice by striking wooden clappers. You will start and end Kinhin with a gassho, or hand mudra placed together at chest-height as in the photo below. Then as you walk, the hands move down, clasped at the chest.

During walking meditation you stand with your fist held again your chest at the bottom of your sternum, and the other hand covering your fist. Walk in a straight line following the Kinhin leader. Your eyes are soft as they are during Zazen sitting meditation. You follow close behind the person in front of you closing any gaps in the line (maintain an arm’s length distance), and pay attention to your walking and the group’s pace. Walk in a slow natural way, until the Kinhin leader indicates a change in pace with the Kinhin clapper sticks.

Walking meditation gives you the opportunity to get circulation in your legs moving again, but it is not a stroll or a break in practice of Zen. While you are walking, your attention is on your walking in harmony with others, breathing, being where you are right here, right now. If you start daydreaming or thinking, bring your attention back to your legs walking, your breath, the harmony of walking together.