Black zafu with white stripe

[usuallymatt]

Hi everyone,

I was watching the beginner videos and noticed the round black Zafu with a white stripe being used and referred to as a Soto zen zafu. Can anyone recommend a good place online to purchase one of these. I was trying to find one from North America (particularly Canada and had no luck)
Gassho, Matt.
Stlah

[Bion]

Hi everyone,

I was watching the beginner videos and noticed the round black Zafu with a white stripe being used and referred to as a Soto zen zafu. Can anyone recommend a good place online to purchase one of these. I was trying to find one from North America (particularly Canada and had no luck)
Gassho, Matt.
Stlah

Matt, I can’t tell you where to get one, to be honest ( I’m sure someone will tell you soon enough).. but I made my own. I had a rounded standard kapok zafu with that cloth “handle” on the back and I just sewed my own white stripe on it with white fabric. End result is this and maybe you can try that




gassho

sat and lah today

[Nengei]

Hi Matt,

If you already have a zafu, I wouldn't worry about getting one that is particularly Soto style. But many places make these in the US at least, though the newer ones seem to lack the white stripe. Some I bought years ago had it, but I don't see those available any longer. The stripe is not really a stripe sewn into the cover, but is a loop or label, like white basting tape you can write your name on. You can see photos here. In practice, the cushion sits with the white stripe toward the wall when not in use, then facing outward toward the room and in line with your spine when you are sitting. The Monastery Store and Still Sitting both carry black, round zafus, and if you wanted the stripe, you could easily sew on a strip of basting tape to make it "official."

I'm not sure there is really any significance to the stripe, I think it is just a handle, but Jundo or one of the more advanced unsui may know some history I do not.

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat today. LAH.

[Jundo]

Nice work, Bion. Thanks for the info Nengei.
Gassho, Matt!

Hah, I was going to put you in touch with "the guys giving away the mountain seat" ... then realized it is you!

Like the old Koan: The self meets the self.

Gassho, J

stLAH

[usuallymatt]

Dammit when I edit my message it deletes it. Was going to add that the small Bodhi zafu at monasterystore looks like what I'm after. 5.5 inches tall and 14 inch diameter. Slightly wider and a little taller than my current cushion but not as high as the mountain seat which was too tall for me (7 inches). I'm like Goldilocks trying to find that perfect seat 😀

[Bion]

Dammit when I edit my message it deletes it. Was going to add that the small Bodhi zafu at monasterystore looks like what I'm after. 5.5 inches tall and 14 inch diameter. Slightly wider and a little taller than my current cushion but not as high as the mountain seat which was too tall for me (7 inches). I'm like Goldilocks trying to find that perfect seat [emoji3]

I don’t know if this is available in the US, but this is my regular zafu. I emptied it of the buckwheat and stuffed it with synthetic filling, like the one used to stuff toys. Works wonderfully:

https://amzn.eu/d/6hKa6fy

Gassho

Sat and lah

[usuallymatt]

I found this one at the Canada Amazon store:

https://a.co/d/eLJAzOY

Similar to the one I have now but slightly bigger dimensions and a decent price so I may get it.

[Bion]

I found this one at the Canada Amazon store:

https://a.co/d/eLJAzOY

Similar to the one I have now but slightly bigger dimensions and a decent price so I may get it.

Yeah, mine was like that before I emptied it of the buckwheat and stuffed it again to make it a bit firmer and taller. [emoji1]

Gassho

Sat and lah

[Tosei]

And please, can we not be concerned about the color, or the stripe, or the contents thereof. Just sit. Dirt, rock, or comfy pillow. It is absolutely all the same.


((SatLah))

[usuallymatt]

Well said, Tosei. One should avoid putting style over substance. I'm guilty of that on occasion. In my case my current cushion has 3 years of daily use and it's time for a change.

[Shujin]

I can't remember where I heard it, but I seem to remember the white strip was for a monk's name, so they could tell them apart. I may be mistaken, however.

Gassho
Shujin

St/lah

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[Jundo]

I can't remember where I heard it, but I seem to remember the white strip was for a monk's name, so they could tell them apart. I may be mistaken, however.

Gassho
Shujin

Yes, that is the name tag where they ink their names, so that they know whose Zafu is whose. The same reason my mom sewed my name in my underwear when I was off to summer camp, long long ago ...

But it is also a nice way to keep folks all nicely symmetrical in the Zendo, which makes for an orderly appearance ... aligning the tag with the backbone ...

Gassho, J

stlah

[Ankai]

LOL my own zafu is- no joke- red and black stripes with an elephant pattern.
Doesn't look like our usual ones. But it holds my butt just fine.

ST
LAH
-Ankai

[Jundo]

LOL my own zafu is- no joke- red and black stripes with an elephant pattern.
Doesn't look like our usual ones. But it holds my butt just fine.

ST
LAH
-Ankai

I think that "holding the butt" is the main and original purpose. (Before that, folks used straw piles, and bead sling chairs) ...

It is only later that we turn things into a "sacred, traditional" object, and must have an "official" Zen style this or that.

My favorite other examples of this process are the Zen master's fly swatter and Kotsu stick which were likely originally, in hot and insect filled ancient India, literally a fly chaser and a back scratcher for the Raja or King to get at those hard to reach itches. Truly.

tsuku.jpgtsuku1.jpg

Gassho, J

stlah