Book Recommendation: - THE POSTURE OF MEDITATION

[Kaye]

I sat today.
Thank you for your thoughtful responses.
When I look back on my years of sitting, I realize I sought perfection in my posture, perfection in focus.
I'm on the chair again now. No longer striving. Just sitting. Sometimes, my mind fantasizes about changing chairs again, returning to the seiza bench, etc.
An old story. So, I say to myself, "Don't run after it. It is perfect as is. Just shut up and sit."
Gassho. kaye

[Tokan]

Nice seiza bench, looks comfy Pebble!

Gassho, Tokan (satlah)

[Chikyou]

I put some more buckwheat in my zafu and made it through this months 4 hour Zazenkai with not too much difficulty (though I had to change positions a few times).

Thanks everyone!

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

[Jundo]

I put some more buckwheat in my zafu and made it through this months 4 hour Zazenkai with not too much difficulty (though I had to change positions a few times).

Thanks everyone!

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

Good news! Know your own body, experiment with your own body's needs. It is not "one size fits all" for this kind of advice. Find what lets you sit long, feeling balanced, stable and pretty comfortable.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Tai Shi]

I am an old hand at this zazen, Schikantaze, but everywhere I placed my spine was wrong for one who has a terrible spinal disease. I'm that fellow. My spine is bent all which ways, and will always be horrible pain. Solution, deskchair, back 10% back at top. and curved to hips.
Gassho
sat/lah

[Randroid]

I’m 80 years old. I have Kyphosis and Scoliosis as well as a head forward ( I don’t know what else to call it , ain’t I a mess ? chuckle chuckle ) so there’s no way I can sit as required. What do you suggest? I realize Zazen is the essence of Zen .

[Shonin Risa Bear]

Sometimes zazen is the essence of a pancake.

Photo on 12-6-25 at 10.54 AM.jpg

gassho, reclined lah, shonin

[Jundo]

I’m 80 years old. I have Kyphosis and Scoliosis as well as a head forward ( I don’t know what else to call it , ain’t I a mess ? chuckle chuckle ) so there’s no way I can sit as required. What do you suggest? I realize Zazen is the essence of Zen .

Hi,

There is no way that is "required." Simply find any posture(s) (there may be more than one, they may change from time to time) that feels as balanced, comfortable and stable as your body will allow.

And even if your body will not allow you to feel always balanced, comfortable and stable, accept in your heart your body as it is ... even if not as you might wish.

I like to say that, if your body sometimes is being in the fetal position moaning, than that is a Buddha in the fetal position moaning when the heart knows so. "Sitting" need not be sitting.

Then, it is the "right" posture.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

PS- Zeno, would you do me a favor? Would you put a human face photo, and sign a human name, to accompany your posts? It helps keeps things more human around here.