Kinhin

Members of Kanzeon Zen Center during kinhin

In Buddhism, kinhin (Chinese: 経行; pinyin: jīngxíng; Japanese pronunciation: kinhin, kyōgyō; Korean: gyeonghyaeng; Vietnamese: kinh hành) is the walking meditation that is practiced between long periods of the sitting meditation known as zazen.^[1] The practice is common in Chan Buddhism and its extra-Chinese forms, Zen, Korean Seon and Vietnamese Thiền.

Practice

Practitioners walk clockwise around a room while holding their hands in shashu (Chinese: 叉手; pinyin: chā shǒu): one hand closed in a fist while the other hand grasps or covers the fist.^[2] During walking meditation each step is taken after each full breath.^[3]

The pace of walking meditation may be slow (several steady steps per each breath) or brisk, almost to the point of jogging.^[2]

Etymology

The terms consist of the Chinese words 經 "to go through (like the thread in a loom)", with sutra as a secondary meaning, and 行 "walk". Taken literally, the phrase means "to walk straight back and forth."

See also

• Circumambulation
• Shikantaza

References

1. Maezumi 2002, pp. 48-9.
2. Aitken 1999, pp. 35-6.
3. "Kinhin". Empty Bowl Zendo. Retrieved April 1, 2015.

Bibliography

• Aitken, Robert (1999). Taking the Path of Zen. North Point Press. pp. 35–36. ISBN 0-86547080-4.
• Maezumi, Hakuyu Taizan; Glassman, Bernie (2002). On Zen Practice: Body, Breath, Mind. Wisdom Publications. pp. 48–49. ISBN 086171315X.