Dear friends: Here is a communication from Christiane Hütte explaining the origins of the international walking meditation that we are doing on Nov. 30. We’re not just walking by ourselves in Denver; it’s all over the world!
Touching Simplicity: International Walking Meditation
Saturday, November 30, 2024
International Walking Meditation Inspired by Zen-Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay)
Please Spread the Word and Consider Organizing and Joining the 2024 Walk
Dear friends, I hope you are taking good care of yourself today, at the end of this election cycle. Breathing in, breathing out.
On a happy note, we know Thay offered countless public walking meditations throughout his life. With great joy, I’m writing to share an opportunity to continue his vision.
When we were in Plum Village a brother in my dharma sharing family, Dharma Teacher Kai Romhardt of Berlin, asked if we in the US might be interested in joining other practitioners in walking meditation on the same day and at the same time to walk peacefully and in mindfulness together.
This collective practice in the German speaking world began in 2008, walking with topics like “Mindful consumption”, “Peace in myself, peace in the world”, “We are the Climate Change”, “Every Euro is a vote….” The 2024 topic, “Touching Simplicity”, emerged from a collective process.
These international walking meditations are organized by Plum Village sanghas, the Order of Interbeing, and regional groups of the Network for Mindful Business (NAW). Last year the international walking meditation took place in 18 countries.
Participating towns outside Europe will walk on Saturday, November 30 at 11 A.M. local time. Walking meditation is an opportunity to connect deeply with ourself, in community, and contemplate together simplicity, simple life, simple joys in an atmosphere of togetherness and mindfulness. Together we can shift the focus from holiday intensity to mindfulness and connection.
I am delighted to share this information with the hope that your sangha, and anyone else, would like to support the walk. If any of us here in the North America participate, it will be the first time. If you are moved to join the international community, could you let me know and share the name of your town and share pictures so I can share them with Kai and the organizers
Here are some of the participating countries in 2023: Thailand, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, France, Argentina, England, Mexico, Denmark, Netherlands, Scotland, Italy, Vietnam, Israel, Poland, Czech Republique. Let’s add towns in the US to this list!
By walking carefully through our city, we want to set a silent sign for our inner abundance. We are in deep contact with the external symbols of purely material promises of happiness. Our practice amidst the consumer frenzy of the holiday season can help us develop a deeper understanding of what we truly want to give to others and to ourselves, and how we all are interconnected. The organization team sends you warm greetings from Francfort and the European Institute for Applied Buddhism.
With a bow and a smile
Christiane Hütte (Coordinator of international walking meditation, NAW Francfort)
Kai Romhardt (Senior Dharmacharya in the Plum Village tradition and Chair of Network for Mindful Business)
P.S. If you are interested to join and organize a walking meditation in your city, please send an eMail to Kai Romhardt ([email protected]).