Walking Meditation?

[newmark]

Why do many books on meditation recommend sitting cross-legged? Is this really necessary? Why not stand? Or sit on a chair? Or walk through a wood?
I don't have any problem with sitting cross-legged, I just wondered whether there was a practical reason, or whether it's cultural; as many meditation methods have been learnt from Asia.

[Jarrod]

My guess.

There are more distractions when you are walking (and your eyes are open).

Some meditation methods require that the body enter a sleepy state in order to experience certain states.

Personally I practice both. Walking when I am in my daily activities and sitting(laying) when I am practicing before sleep.

[xhironakamurax]

I practice walking meditation, and umm guitar meditation which is like a continues drum pattern

[Fullcrum]

Well, it's easy to sit in the same spot for a long period when sitting in the lotus position because it puts your back in the right position. Chairs, simple Indian style, and woods do not have that. It's hard to be distracted when sitting, the only distraction is what's in your mind, hence you can focus on that and clear it easily, hence sitting in the lotus works.

But whatever works for you, use it!

[hkalchemy]

I think it's harder to maintain focus when you're walking - you need to keep your eyes open for one thing. But then again when you sit still for a long time there is also much to distract - pain, discomfort and your brain making up for a lack of visual stimulus by drifting into all kinds of fantasy.

I used to attend a Korean Zen center where we did both sitting and walking meditation. I found the walking one very hard in terms of focusing. Too much to distract.

[Trezker]

I find sitting much more distracting than walking. There's always some little thing that bothers me no matter how I sit or lie. But when I'm walking the body just keeps on moving, rolling along so I can use my brain for anything I want. It's pretty interesting that I can walk on autopilot but not sit...

[Jarrod]

A positive about walking meditation is that it can be steadily extended into simple tasks. To bring more value into your life.