Do you guys use a cushion when you meditate? I'm just starting to look into meditation, and it looks SO cozy so sit on one of the "official" pillows. Do you just use any pillow around the house? Or do you have a special one that helps you get into the mood?

Lisa - that's a very important consideration, it's easier on the knees as we age to have our posterior slightly elevated with our folded in lower legs on the floor.

I use a regular dining chair cushion - the kind that is filled with kapok, about 15 inches in diameter. I sit the cushion on a rug so my bare feet have some protection from the hard floor. Additionally if there is any chill I drape a light blanket around my shoulders and cross it over in front.

I guess it looks like I'm in a tent with my head stuck out

I really wanted an embroidered pillow for some reason. I love embroidery. I figured if this was my only meditation item that I wanted it to have meaning. But it seems like most of them are just "black" or "blue" or whatever. I did find one that was reddish with dragonflies, maybe I should get that for now and worry about more fancy kinds later on ...

Dragonflies sounds nice! My pillow cushion is sort of nautical. What I do is insert the cushion in a pillowcase and fold the ends in, sort of like an envelope.

You know it occurred to me that I could just make my own pillowcase cover - but all the cushions I found are these odd cylindrical shape. Is that the typical cushion shape, or is that just one of many?

I've seen the cylindrical shapes advertised lately, but not in past years. A square pillow can be used and even folded in half to make a rectangle to elevate your seat a bit more above the floor.

Some people use a blanket folded into a square or rectangle shape which has the advantage of being made into your preferred shape for comfort.

Another advantage of a blanket is that one end can be folded over several times to provide an elevated portion for sitting and you still have a piece of blanket to rest your lower legs.

ok let's see, apparently a zafu is the cylinder thing. They say a zabuton is a square thing but it's supposed to go under a zafu.

LOL look this site lets you color coordinate your set

Zafu Designs Color Coordination

so this looks like a pain to make a cover for ...

OK I found pretty ones here

Taraluna Embroidered Zazen Pillow

fair trade, from real monks

So many products to choose from! Isn't it fun getting set up!

QUESTION

What does everyone sit on for meditation?

Well I ordered a green one from the Taraluna site. I am going on faith here, they don't even have a photo of the green one. I'll post a photo once I get it! I think it's cool that "real monks" are making it.

I agree - I believe even renunciates need to do some practical work to support themselves.

OK here's the one I got!



Now to try it out! I'm curious what types of cushions other people use

Lisa, that is so beautiful and looks nice and firm, too!

Well, I couldn't see a photo of it before I ordered it so I admit it's a bit too "bright" for me. I was hoping for a deeper forest green but I imagine it'll age over time. I will let you know how it feels when I give it a try!

it's pretty and exotic - not bad. And fair trade is very nice.

Yes I very much like fair trade.

Now to find a quiet time to use it!! Maybe tomorrow

LIsa, how is this pillow working for you? It looks a little high - is that how it's supposed to be?

Oh, I was thinking you could put it out in the sun to fade it. Each sunny day, just leave it on your porch, and turn it from time to time.

Funny someone just wrote me today asking about this pillow and where I'd gotten it from. My links had stopped working. Hopefully my updates have made them work again! I still enjoy the pillow.

I featured my cushion in the photo for the Earth Day meditation challenge .



I do still love this cushion! Highly recommended.