20260815 【Outdoor Chan Meditation Programme】

Returning to the Ground of Mindfulness

On the morning of 15 August, around 20 participants gathered at Taman Lembah Bukit SUK, Shah Alam for an outdoor Chan meditation programme. Observing noble silence, they were guided to return to the present moment and cultivate awareness of the body and mind amid nature.

Following the 8-Form Moving Meditation and sitting meditation, participants walked slowly through the park, noticing each step and the sensation of their feet touching the ground. As the walk continued, their attention gradually expanded to the sounds around them: rustling leaves, chirping birds, calling insects and even the distant hum of grass-cutting machines.

They later gathered in a shaded area for standing and sitting meditation, followed by a picnic lunch and mindful eating. Through each activity, participants practised remaining attentive to their movements, bodily sensations and surroundings.

“If I returned to my own ground, you would not be able to catch me.” During the debrief, Venerable Chang Ji shared the story of the hawk and the quail from the Sakuṇagghi Sutta (SN 47.6). The hawk had caught the quail after it strayed beyond its familiar territory. The quail challenged the hawk to release it and pursue it again in a ploughed field. Confident of its strength, the hawk agreed. When it swooped down, the quail quickly slipped behind a clod of earth, causing the hawk to crash into the hard clod.

Venerable Chang Ji explained that the story points to the importance of remaining within the ground of practice. Venerable likened the hawk to the afflictions or circumstances that can take hold when opportunities to practice are not so readily available. Rather than waiting until one is already caught and then struggling to break free, the best protection is to remain diligent when conditions are favourable. Seen in this light, walking, standing, sitting and eating can all become opportunities to return to the body and mind.

Participants later exchanged their experiences and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to practise outdoors. The programme concluded with a refreshing tea meditation in the warmth of the afternoon.

The experience showed that meditation need not be confined to the meditation hall. Wherever one may be, returning to the present moment provides a steady ground from which to meet everyday experiences without being carried away by them.

Texts by Yong Wai Fun

Photos by Perlyn Tan