Walking meditation at Plum Village Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most renowned Buddhist teachers of our time. He is a Zen master, poet, prolific author, and founder of the Engaged Buddhist movement. Still actively traveling and teaching in his eighties, Thich Nhat Hanh resides at Plum Village, a practice community in southern France.

"Wherever we walk, we can practice meditation. This means that we know that we are walking.  We walk just for walking. We walk with freedom and solidity, no longer in a hurry. We are present with each step. And when we wish to talk we stop our movement and give our full attention to the other person, to our words and to listening.

Walking in this way should not be a privilege. We should be able to do it in every moment. Look around and see how vast life is, the trees, the white clouds, the limitless sky. Listen to the birds.
Feel the fresh breeze. Life is all around and we are alive and healthy and capable of walking in peace.

Let us walk as a free person and feel our steps get lighter. Let us enjoy every step we make. Each step is nourishing and healing. As we walk, imprint our gratitude and our love on the earth.

We may like to use a gatha as we walk. Taking two or three steps for each in-breath and each out-breath,

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"

-  Thich Nhat Hanh, Walking Meditation at Plum Village in France