What Is the Difference Between Walking and Resting Postures?

When walking, the body consciousness and mental consciousness should be focused on the operation of the physical body, with attention directed towards the physical body and the surrounding environment. The attention of the mano-vijnana (isolated mental consciousness) contemplating the Dharma principles must then decrease. Energy becomes insufficient, making it difficult to concentrate fully. Contemplation becomes neither deep nor meticulous, hindering the birth of wisdom. Whereas in sitting or lying down, the scattering of consciousness diminishes, and the attention of the mano-vijnana becomes more concentrated. Contemplation thus becomes deep, subtle, and meticulous, facilitating the birth of wisdom.

Therefore, it is said that the stillness and concentration (samadhi) attained in sitting or lying down more easily gives rise to wisdom. During sitting or lying down, the mind has fewer burdens; one can concentrate energy and contemplate meticulously without worrying about encountering situations as when walking. With a tranquil mind, sitting meditation more readily gives rise to the upacara-samadhi (access concentration) and the first dhyana (first meditative absorption).

Wisdom arises from concentration (samadhi). This concentration refers to upacara-samadhi and the first dhyana. Hence, to realize the fruits of the path or attain enlightenment, one must at minimum possess upacara-samadhi. As long as it is not a thoughtless upacara-samadhi or first dhyana, deep concentration allows for more meticulous contemplation, and there is no issue with opening wisdom to discover new continents of wisdom.