I recently heard a story on NPR that I was so intrigued by that I investigated and found the story online. The story is about a Monk from a Japanese Buddhist temple. The story is interesting because he walks for 6 hours every day as part of his spiritual practice. I’ve heard this practice referred to as moving meditation. Many of us struggle to walk for an hour. We find it difficult to meditate for 20 minutes. Through the Monk’s daily walk, he combines walking, mantra, prayer and dedication in his journey to enlightenment. So, for 700 days, he continues this ritual, walking as the night turns to day. The symbolism is piercing. And then, after 700 days, he prays for 9 days nonstop. During the process, he transcends and finds a connection with everything. He is reborn.
As a walker myself, I intuitively found myself not only using the process of walking for my body, but also for enhancing my spiritual life. With each step, I’ve said prayers. I’ve repeated mantras, such as “Om Namah Shivaya” to acknowledge that God’s will be done in my life. As I walk, I am reminded to honor the Earth that supports each step. I become grateful for every tree that I pass, for each squirrel that scampers by, and for each person that I greet along the way. As I walk, I become enveloped in each moment. I become one within myself. And I am mindful of being present in the present moment. And I too, become transformed, one step at a time.live streaming movie Aardvark online
I invite you to read the entire article: Monks Enlightenment Begins With A Marathon Walk
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125223168&sc=emaf
