Literally: «Walk in a straight line».
Kinhin "Also written sometimes as kin hin- It is the name that receives the walking meditation In Buddhism Soto Zen. It is a practice that is carried out between sessions of zazen, allowing to stretch the body without abandoning conscious attention or inner recollection.
During kinhin, walks slowly in silence, synchronizing every step with breathing. The movements are deliberate, precise and serene. The hands are placed in position of shashu (Closed left hand on the thumb, right hand wrapping the left, sustained in front of the belly), And attention is directed to the act of walking as an expression of the same presence that we cultivate in the sitting position.
Kinhin It is not a meditation break, sino moving meditation. Walking becomes a path to integrate practice into the body, root the mind in the here and now, and continue on the way of awakening instantly after instant.
In the CSZCM, kinhin is part of the sessions of zazen, especially during retreats (sesshin), And it is transmitted carefully to rhythm, The position and spirit of practice. Walking together reminds us that The road is traveled step by step, With each breath, At every moment.
