An Introduction to Dynamic Meditation--An Interview with Ven. Ajahn Suthep Chinawaro -- by Jeffrey Po

Ajahn Suthep was here to share a special style of meditation at Wat Ananda Metyarama Buddhist Temple. Jeffrey Po finds out more about the meditation technique.

Good evening Ajahn and welcome to Singapore. Can you perhaps say something about your visit?

I come from Chantaburi in Thailand and I am here to teach Dynamic meditation to some Singaporeans.

Can you explain what is "Dynamic Meditation"?

I took ordination in 1988 and started first year at Wat Snamnai, Luangpor Teean's centre in Nontaburi, near Bangkok. Luangpor Teean was a great Thai meditation master who came to Singapore in 1982 to teach for the first time and his teaching was published in the famous Vipassana book - "To One That Feels". He passed away on 13th September 1988 so I am one of the last disciples who had ever seen him while he was still alive. Actually I teach Luangpor Teean's method and my creations - both a special type of sitting and walking meditation which is called "Buddhaleela Mahasati".

In Buddhaleela Mahasati meditation, "leela" mean "movement or dynamic" and "Mahasati" means "great mindfulness" and so we can understand it as Dynamic Meditation in general. Now we know that the Buddha in a sitting position expressed several hand postures - mudras. They are very meaningful and it would be great if they can be incorporated into meditation techniques. Luangpor Teean developed 14 steps of hand movements for the sitting meditation, and I incorporated the Buddha's mudras into the hand movements to form 38 steps. There are basically five mudras postures for each set of 38 movements. This system of 38 steps which I formulated for the hand movements constituted the "38 Blessings" mentioned in the Mangala Sutta.

For walking meditation, I met Ajahn Kusalacitto who showed me the technique of the "Seven Lotus Walking Meditation" that can be associated with the Buddha's birth story - he walked seven steps and at each step a lotus flower sprouted from the ground. I had created this pattern and now contribute this method of meditation world wide. I also created the standing meditation that used the standing Buddha image in motions too.

So what does a meditator actually do with the hands and arms when he sits?

The meditator moves his arms in a certain pattern and sequence. I will show you.

(Ajahn then demonstrated - the movements were all intricate sequences similar to hand expressions of a performer - the only difference is that all the five mudra postures of the Buddha are used).

You see, there are nine "inward" movements and ten "outward" movements each for the left and right hand - making a total of 38 movements for both hands.

Thank you Ajahn for the demonstration - however in traditional meditation technique, the meditator is supposed to keep still and explore himself and his inner self. How then can a meditator concentrate when he is moving all the time?

All the meditation techniques come from Mahasatipatthana Sutta which calls for the contemplation and mindfulness of the body, sensation, mind and dhamma. Meditation begins with mindfulness on the body which has six aspects namely mindfulness of breathing; the four postures of body; mindfulness with clear comprehension; reflection on the repulsiveness of the body; reflection on the material elements and the nine cemetery contemplation. In general the meditator usually starts off with the practice of breathing in and out, with closed eye and trying to maintain stillness. Luangpor Teean's techniques may look different or new. However, if we really review the texts, his techniques are the same because in the end we combine these three techniques - breathing in and out, backbone straight and clear comprehension into one. The difference may be that practitioners may find Luangpor Teean's system more suitable for daily life.

Now, coming to the dynamic movements - with the movements of the arms, hands and fingers, the meditator has to concentrate so that they become smooth and flow perfectly. By doing so he soon loses consciousness of his other sense inputs because his mind becomes absorbed in the movements. In the usual in-out breathing system, the meditator is usually mindful of the breathing for a short time and thereafter his mind begins to wander about. Here the concentration is more focused. After some practice, the hand movements flow very smoothly. This is similar to a ballroom dancer who first practices the intricate steps and movements and finally after many many years of practice when he has perfected all the movements and dance sequences, he will lose himself to the flow of the music as he dances and glides over the dance floor.

I also observed that the movements seem to follow a certain pattern. Is there any significance?

Yes, when I developed this technique I found that I had achieved good results on myself. Later on, after I taught this method, I notice that some of the positions follow the heart line and the "chi" meridian. Some even conform to the body's acu-pressure points. It looked as though those hand movement patterns are in tuned with a person's bio-field.

Besides the sitting style, what other styles of meditation do you offer?

I also formulated the "Seven-Step Lotus Flower Walking Meditation" technique - a walking meditation by moving forwards and backwards in only seven steps. In the technique, the turning-back step (number five, six and seven) are important. Here, the meditator must hit his heels to bring him back to the present moment and recall the mind back to the mindfulness of the body. This would then effectively cut out the chain of random thoughts.

For a beginner, a sort of a template can be used and the practitioner simply needs to follow the footprints drawn on it. After some time the footprints will offer the impression of the seven lotus flowers. Then the little Buddha (emptiness) will arise in the meditator's mind. This will bring him/ her back to being mindful about his walking meditation. The Seven Lotus Walking Meditation should be done in a relaxed and natural way, smilingly, happily, and joyfully.

Can you demonstrate?

Of course.

(Ajahn then rolled out a canvas template drawn with footprints (see pic above) for the meditator to follow. On the footprints, he demostrated the Seven-Step Lotus Flower Walking Meditation and also the method of turning around.)

Thank you, Ajahn. I notice that you did not follow the traditional style of walking meditation that is deliberately and mindfully lifting up your feet, pushing it forward and then stepping and so forth and that you walked at a naturally slow pace. Can you comment?

I found that walking meditation traditionally taught in Vipassana is good but difficult for the elderly people to do because they are not physically steady and also it is difficult to apply in real life. In this technique, the meditator walks comfortably and naturally in ease. With each step, he contemplates on the lotus flower of the Buddha. When the meditator turns backward and "clicks his heels" - perhaps the Little Buddha will appear in his mind.

How about standing meditation?

Well you can use standing meditation with the hand movements and it will be something like Tai-chi.

Thank you, Ajahn.

Any enquiries about Ven Ajahn Suthep or Dynamic Meditation, please contact Sister Charmaine Tan @96834771 (mobile) / Brother Hor 016-4818308 (mobile).