Chan is Everywhere in Daily Life

People who know how to adjust their body and mind while walking, standing, sitting, and lying down are able to enjoy not only physical well-being, but also harmony of body and mind. As long as we maintain clear awareness and a mind free from afflictions in every aspect of life, we can live with vitality and joy.

Our daily activity revolves around four major modes of bodily movement—walking, standing, sitting, and lying down. From waking up and getting to work, all the way through resting at night, the repetitive cycle of walking, standing, sitting, and lying down actually constitutes our daily routine.

Walking, standing, sitting, and lying down involve not only physical movements but also mental activities, consciousness, and emotions; thus, they reflect the physiological, psychological, and spiritual aspects of human life. In today's world, where speed is highly valued, most people are overwhelmed by competition in the midst of rushing around, having difficulty remaining at peace and sleeping tight at night. One who is skilled in adjusting their body and mind while walking, standing, sitting, and lying down can achieve physical health and harmony in body and mind. In the meantime, if they can also practice mindfulness, then over time they'll be able to develop emotional stability and refined composure.

Practicing Chan While Walking, Standing, Sitting, and Lying Down Stated in Chan Scriptures

The Buddhist teaching, especially the Chan Buddhist tradition, places special emphasis on the idea that every little moment in daily life is an opportunity for spiritual cultivation. As Mazu Daoyi said, "Walking, standing, sitting, lying down and dealing with things—all this is not separate from the Way". Also, as Yongjia Xuanjue noted in his "Song of Enlightenment", "Walking is Chan, sitting is Chan. Whether speaking or being silent, in motion or stillness, the fundamental nature is calm and at ease." This underscores that, regardless of the activity one is engaged in, to feel at ease and tranquil in the mind is to experience Chan.

In Buddhist scriptures, although "walking, standing, sitting, and lying down" may be a general expression to refer to everyday life, there are nonetheless scriptures that focus on separate discussions on these four aspects respectively. For example, Master Zhiyi's "Essentials of Buddhist Meditation" states that we can cultivate calm states (samatha) and insight (vipassana) while walking, standing, sitting, and lying down, all of which represent the four major aspects of our daily life activity: "If one always practices the skillful means of concentration and wisdom at all times, you can know that this person must be able to understand and penetrate all Buddhadharma. What is meant by cultivating calm and insight through the external conditions? The external conditions in this regard mean six kinds of conditions: walking, standing, sitting, and lying down, performing actions, speaking…"

The scriptures explore "walking, standing, sitting, and lying down" respectively, in order to emphasize the interaction between the body and the mind, as well as how different events may trigger corresponding emotions typically in those situations. Sitting in an upright position is mostly for more serious occasions, such as having a meeting, working in an office setting, or participating in a formal discussion, which can easily lead to physical and mental stress. While reclining or lying down, our minds tend to become fatigued, drowsy, and lazy. During walking and standing, however, we are more likely to entertain scattered thoughts and easily become restless. The body and mind influence each other. For example, when being mentally in a hurry, our steps tend to quicken; conversely, being physically in a rush often leads to mental agitation. Therefore, by observing our bodily movements, we can develop the awareness of our inner states. Once being aware that we are in a tense or anxious state, through inner adjustment and relaxation, our body will naturally become calm and stable.

How do we maintain a stable mind that is not affected by external circumstances or emotions? The Dharma Drum Mountain Chan Meditation Promotion Center suggests methods of practice such as reciting the Buddha's name, chanting dharanis/mantras, feeling our breathing, counting breaths, walking meditation, and standing meditation, all of which are very effective. The underlying principle of these methods is to "concentrate the mind on one object" and "rein in the mind to focus on one place", thereby allowing the fluctuating mind to gradually settle. Thus, "in our daily life, we should keep our mind where our body is; be clearly aware and relax, relaxing our whole body. By doing so, we can gradually and naturally be able to detach from our body and mind, and achieve unity of body and mind." In addition to concentrating our mind on one point, it is essential to maintain relaxation of both the body and mind, whether walking, standing, sitting, and lying down. As Dharma Drum Mountain founder Master Sheng Yen repeatedly taught his disciples, "Hurry with our work, but do not rush. Relax our body and mind, and do not get tense." This means that, while we may be physically in a hurry to get a job done, there is no need to rush. In addition, while busily engaged in work, we must keep our mind from getting tense.

Walking, Standing, Sitting, and Lying Down in Modern Health Preservation

The expression—Walk like the wind, stand like a pine tree, sit like a bell, and lie down like a bow—is the ancient standard expected of Buddhist disciples regarding a dignified and solemn posture for walking, standing, sitting, and lying down. From the modern medical perspective, maintaining correct and good posture is beneficial for physical health. Dr. Yeh RuiChi, a nephrologist at Mackay Memorial Hospital, explains that the spine, which supports the body's ability to stand upright, is surrounded by countless neurotransmitters. If the spine is compressed, it can harm the nearby nerves, indirectly affecting internal organs.

As noted by Dr. Chen Qingwen, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner at the Tianmu Chinese Medicine Clinic, TCM holds that "prolonged walking harms the muscles, prolonged standing harms the spine, prolonged sitting harms the lower back, and prolonged lying down harms the spirit." This illustrates the close relationship between how we walk, stand, sit, and lie down, and our overall physical health. Furthermore, he emphasizes an important principle for health preservation: "Avoid allowing the muscles and bones to become stiff or maintaining the same posture for too long during walking, standing, sitting, or lying down. Therefore, it's essential to know how to relax the muscles and bones in daily life and change positions when necessary."

Both Chan and medical practice stress the importance of cultivating good psychological and physiological habits, whether walking, standing, sitting, and lying down. Our body and mind reciprocally affect each other. When we are aware of the states of our mind, body, and breathing, after which we apply methods to adjust our body and regulate our breathing, our minds can gradually dispel external disturbances. By developing a stable state of mind, we can further activate and strengthen our body's inherent mechanisms for self-healing and repair.

The Sixth Patriarch's Platform Scripture, states "The Samadhi of one-practice means that, in all situations, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, one should practice the one straightforward mind." It also says, "When the mind is not giving rise to thoughts, it is called ‘sitting.’" This means that calmness of spirit and manifestation of wisdom are cultivated in everyday life. Chan practice, in its true sense, is about staying undisturbed by external circumstances in daily life that can trigger negative emotions, thereby maintaining mental and emotional stability. One who can maintain peace of mind while walking, standing, sitting, and lying down certainly possesses a calm and composed demeanor, radiating a serene and tranquil aura and thus positively influencing people around them. For example, in the Buddha's time, Sariputra witnessed the dignified and solemn conduct of the bhikkhus Assaji (Skt. Aśvajit) after which he immediately generated deep reverence and delight, and thus decided to convert his faith to the Buddha's teaching.



Related articles:

Chan is Everywhere in Daily Life

Walking – With Calm and Steady Steps

Standing – Relax Your Body and Mind to Lighten Your Burden

Sitting Meditation – Regulating the Mind and Breath in Sitting, for Better Health

Optimal Sleep Postures --for a Steady Mind and Body, and a Sound Sleep



Resource: Issue 232 of Humanity  Magazine, Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Photos: Dharma Drum Mountain 
Translation: 可馨 
Editing: Keith Brown, Chiacheng Chang (張家誠)