Kinhin
Kinhin ( Japanese 経 行 , also read Kyōgyō ; Chinese 經 行 , pinyin jīngxíng ) in Zen Buddhism is meditation while walking or walking in mindfulness and awareness.
The speed in the Kinhin varies - from slow, taking one step each time you exhale and inhale, to a brisk pace - especially when practiced outdoors. While the practitioners in close succession, almost in single file , do their conscious steps, they hold hands in shashu . In Sōtō Zen, in which Kinhin practitioners move clockwise, shashu means that the left fist, encircled by the right hand, rests in front of the upper body with the forearms roughly parallel to the floor from elbow to elbow. Rinzai practitioners walking counterclockwise cover their right inner hand with their left outer hand, also open, with their thumbs crossed, i.e. H. the thumb of the outer hand points inwards and vice versa. It is widely believed that the Kinhin should provide students with a balance to zazen . In fact, it is a meditation practice that is equivalent to zazen. The practice of mindful walking can be traced back to the historical Buddha . It also indicates the implementation of Zen in everyday life.
Kinhin is usually a short exercise and there are several ways of mindful training. In single file, you can keep a distance (if necessary in step) and watch the soles of your feet.
Web links
- Description of the Kinhin on the website of the Zen Dojo Basel.