Q: There are so many meditation methods, why this moving meditation?

LUANGPOR THONG: Because Mahasati Meditation is a natural method which we can practice anywhere, anytime and in all activities. "Knowing Element" is a pure and natural quality that exists in every human being. Human body cannot stay still. It moves naturally all the time. Mahasati Meditation is a method that emphasizes the present moment all the time. Practitioners will see their body and mind, and their own thought which is the source of suffering (anger, greed, delusion).

Q:  If we try to be aware of the bodily movements all the time, could one say that is attachment, which would contradict the principle of non-attachment or not clinging to anything?   And is this the first step of practicing?

LUANGPOR THONG:  To be aware of bodily movements is the only technique we use from beginning to end.  If we know our bodily movements we won’t be attached.  We were attached because we did not know the movement. The Buddha taught us to be with knowing, with sati (awareness), samadhi (attention) and panna (wisdom) so we won’t get stuck.  The more we know, the more we will be free from attachment.  There are two kinds of knowing:  to know unknowingly and to know with knowing.  If we know with knowing, we won’t get stuck.  But if we know unknowingly we will get stuck.  So the Buddha said just know but do not attach, do not get deluded and do not be proud of that knowing.  If we know in this way, the more we know the more we will feel comfortable.  The more we know the less we will have doubt.  And at last, we will have no doubt at all.

Q:

When we do the hand movements with eyes open do we look at our hands moving or do we just look straight ahead at "nothing" and notice the movements. This is distracting me at the moment because I'm switching between looking ahead and looking directly at each hand while it moves not knowing which I should be doing. Or are both ok? Thanks, Andy

Luangpor Thong:

Dear Andy, We do not look at the hands while doing the hand movements. Just look at a comfortable distance of about 5 to 8 feet and do the rhythmic movements. Move your hands (or your feet if you are doing walking meditation) and be aware (know) that you are moving. You should pay attention to just one movement at a time. Practice in a relaxed way. Practice without tension. Practice playfully.

Q: Does one need to make an effort to see thought, or will seeing thought occur naturally and spontaneously after one observes bodily movement for a sufficient amount of time? In other words, should one remain aware of bodily movement only, or does one need to shift awareness to thought in order to see thought?

LUANGPOR THONG:

Dear John,

In your practice, your duty is to be aware of your body movement. When you move, there is a "knowing element" in you that knows you are moving. In the practice, we move one body part at a time, so you can be aware of only that one movement. The longer you are aware of body movement, the more you will be aware of your thoughts. You will naturally begin to "see" your thoughts. When thougths come up, stay aware of body movement so you don't follow thoughts and lose awareness. But practice naturally, in a relaxed way, without tension, without concentrating or forcing attention, even playfully. Whenever you realize you lost awareness, go back gently to being aware of your movement.

Q: “I’m very busy and don’t have free time, is it possible for me to be enlightened anyway?

LUANGPOR THONG: Of course, there is no exception if we are aware of our actions. Some practitioners were enlightened while they were working on their farms. So, the most important point is to be aware.

Q: While we’re working, we need to move several parts of the body at the same time. How can we cultivate our awareness then?

LUANGPOR THONG: In formal practice or in simple jobs, move only one part of the body at a time. But in other tasks that require more than one part of the body to move, we can also cultivate our self-awareness by being aware of all our actions.

In summary, whatever we do we should be aware of what we are doing. But we have set this rule (moving one part of the body at a time) for formal practice.

This technique (rhythmic hand movements and walking back and forth) is the direct way. To cultivate self-awareness through working is indirect. Therefore this method is easy and simple to practice unless we do not want to do it or make excuses. Really anyone can do it.