[bahrain41]

I have a question, I'm still learning meditation. I will eventually look up walking meditation but in teaching myself I foretell lots of bruised knees (specially in an small apartment), plus I don't think its very meditative to have to think about not tripping over the cat, hitting the wall, or tripping over my own shoes (I am really bad about putting them on the rack).

On the other hand, when I go hiking out in the country away from people, I am really calm and the best way to describe it is it "hits my reset button", I feel a lot better after I've gone and done this. Its like this anytime I spend 5+ hours outside, but more so when I go hiking in back country. Could this be a form of meditation?

[Anteneprorid]

just quickly bumping this question to the top of the threads.

[MineOffedOvex]

It's that 'kind' of spaciousness and release. If there's too much tension etc, then it's wrong.

[flienianO]

when I go hiking out in the country away from people, I am really calm and the best way to describe it is it "hits my reset button" Could this be a form of meditation?

You need peace and quiet in order to calm the mind, and as you say, getting away from people helps you feel more at one with yourself. If when your mind is calm you are able to pay more focused attention to your surroundings, and also you feel more in touch with what’s going on inside your own being i.e. awareness of your feelings and thoughts, then yes, I think you could call that meditating.

I’m pretty new to this as well, so I’m just expressing a view here, but I’ve read that meditation is about concentrating the mind on a object of your choosing, so you could be focusing on the sensations in your feet as you walk or on something you see - you could sit and focus on a rock for example, or just be aware of your whole moment-to-moment experience as you‘re walking in the countryside with all the sounds, smells and sights that are coming into awareness through your senses.

[bitymnmictada]

Could this be a form of meditation?

My opinion is any time our mind is abiding in letting go and releasing itself from mundane activity, this is a tranquility meditation. Sounds nice.

Regards

Element

[dupratac]

On the other hand, when I go hiking out in the country away from people, I am really calm and the best way to describe it is it "hits my reset button", I feel a lot better after I've gone and done this. Its like this anytime I spend 5+ hours outside, but more so when I go hiking in back country. Could this be a form of meditation?

Yes, I too find that my mind becomes peaceful and spacious and thoughts settle very quickly in an outdoor open environment such as you describe - and I prefer to meditate outside when I'm at home - or beside an open window, depending on the weather.

[JessicaLin]

I have a question, I'm still learning meditation. I will eventually look up walking meditation but in teaching myself I foretell lots of bruised knees (specially in an small apartment), plus I don't think its very meditative to have to think about not tripping over the cat, hitting the wall, or tripping over my own shoes (I am really bad about putting them on the rack).

I used to do walking meditation in my room where I used to live, which was quite small, around 6 small steps, and I didn't have any dramas. But now my walking meditation path is about 12-15 steps and it is better because now I don't have to walk at a snail pace like I used to.