When we think of the Buddha, we often picture him seated in serene meditation, perfectly still as the statues depict. But if we delve into his life story, we find a different image: the Buddha walked—a lot!
This fact is easy to overlook. Yes, he wandered extensively across Northern India to share the Dharma, his teachings, for 45 years after his enlightenment. But why all the walking? Couldn’t he have just stayed in meditative stillness? The answer reveals much about the body’s essential role in the Buddhist path.
Teaching by Example
The Buddha used skillful means to teach, tailoring his methods to suit his audience. Above all, he embodied the Dharma, living as an example of the enlightened mind’s qualities. His actions, including how he used his body, conveyed his teachings as much as his words did. For the Buddha, the body was not a mere vessel but an integral part of enlightenment.
The Buddha’s teachings emphasize the body’s indispensable role in Dharma practice. The body serves as:
A gateway to mindfulness
A source of insight
A tool for ethical conduct
Interdependent with the mind
The Body as A Gateway to Mindfulness
The body is often the easiest aspect of our experience to be mindful of. For instance, you can readily bring awareness to the sensation of your feet touching the ground. With practice, this awareness deepens, opening the door to subtler objects of mindfulness like feelings and the nature of reality.
A Source of Insight
Buddhism teaches that all things are impermanent, unsatisfactory, and without autonomous existence. The body provides a clear lens to observe these truths:
Impermanence: Observe the breath—no two breaths are identical, reflecting constant change.
Unsatisfactoriness: The body inevitably experiences pain, sickness, and aging, reminding us of life’s inherent challenges.
Insubstantiality: The body is not independent. It’s composed of cells, food, air, and countless external factors. Reflecting on this reveals its interconnected nature.
A Tool for Ethical Conduct
An enlightened mind acts with perfect ethics, embodying love, generosity, and truthfulness. The body enables this expression. The Buddha used his body to walk, teach, and communicate care and compassion. It’s through the body that we can tangibly help others.
Interdependence of Mind and Body
The mind and body are deeply interconnected. A healthy body supports mental clarity, while a balanced mind promotes physical wellbeing. Consider how your meditation feels after practicing yoga as opposed to after eating junk food, or how your body responds after a peaceful meditation versus an hour of scrolling through negative news.
Buddhism isn’t solely about training the mind; it’s about harmonizing mind and body.
Practical Steps
So, how can we honor the body in our practice? Here are some suggestions:
Cultivate a daily yoga or movement practice for physical and mental health.
Bring mindfulness to everyday activities like walking or washing dishes.
Reflect on the body’s impermanence and interconnectedness.
The Buddha didn’t leave his body behind, and neither should we. By integrating body awareness into our practice, we walk the path of mindfulness and insight more fully.