Exploring Emptiness Through Walking

Walking meditation provides a special opportunity to investigate the concept of emptiness in action. By viewing the various aggregates (body, sensations, intentions, etc.) involved in walking as anattā—or not-self—the notion of walking can start to disintegrate. This process of disbanding the solidified perceptions surrounding walking affirms its dependence on clinging. One can also practically realize that "walking" defies easy definition, as it is contingent on numerous interconnected conditions such as the body, earth, gravity, and intentions. Therefore, walking is not the isolated process we often think it to be.

The Unfindability of Beginnings and Endings

Using philosophical inquiry, one can delve into the paradox of when walking begins or ends. Stationariness cannot initiate movement, just as movement cannot mark its own beginning. Similarly, the conclusion of walking cannot be pinpointed. Arguments attempting to define the inception of walking within a "moment" fall apart under scrutiny, as such a moment either has no duration (and therefore cannot exist) or it merely postpones the beginning to yet another moment, leading to an infinite regress. As a consequence, walking, like any motion, lacks inherent existence, reflecting the teachings of Nāgārjuna that the beginnings of all phenomena are fundamentally unfindable.

The Unfindability of Walking

Nāgārjuna's examination of motion can also be applied to walking meditation. Analyzing a walking path reveals that walking isn't taking place where one has already walked nor in the areas one is yet to walk; furthermore, dissecting the present moment shows that motion cannot be located at any singular point in time either. This extends into general analysis, where walking and all its components can be subjected to various classic Buddhist examinations, such as the sevenfold reasoning or the neither-one-nor-many analysis, to draw out their emptiness.

Resting in, Enjoying, and Consolidating the View

Following the analytical practice and subsequent realization of emptiness, one should rest in that view. This period of contemplation magnifies the insubstantiality of objects and allows the practitioner to bask in the feelings of release and freedom that ensue. The lack of inherent existence in walking, when directly experienced, can evoke feelings ranging from unbinding to exhilaration. Returning to the analysis as needed helps maintain and deepen the insight.

Practice: Analysing Walking and Finding It Empty

To instill insights into practice, begin by focusing on the sensations of walking to establish mindfulness. Then, ponder the beginning and ending of walking, cognizant that neither can be found. This realization of walking’s inherent absence of beginning, ending, or definable existence can profoundly affect one's perception of movement. The practice should be approached with patience and perseverance, enjoying the breakthroughs as they occur. Transferring these insights to other activities or objects, especially those associated with suffering, may help mitigate their perceived solidity and associated dukkha.

Subtle Dukkha, and Sweet Relief

Often without recognizing it, everyday activities such as walking carry a subtle form of dukkha due to our bound perceptions. Upon recognizing the emptiness of walking and thus unbinding these perceptions, one encounters a sense of liberation. This newly acquired perspective can affect all aspects of life, turning even mundane movements into experiences of freedom and wonder. Moreover, these practices illuminate the emptiness not only of walking but also of processes and change at large, guiding towards a deeper understanding that avoids the limitations of reifying processes as ultimately real.