Zafu

[Jinyu]

Re: Zafu

Hi everyone!

I'll just throw my two cents (does that mean something? :lol: )...
For sure, I'll get a better, nicer, easier, ... zafu if you buy it. It can help some dharma groups and can also be part of a kind of "Dana", and encouraging our fellows from other Sanghas is always a great thing.

But, there are so much advices and "how to" on how to sew a zafu on the Internet, that you may think about sewing your own!
It is not difficult, it doesn't really take a long time, and it is quite fun! And sewing is so rewarding, when you look at it, sewing a zafu is sewing the Buddha's seat! What an opportunity!
And when you are done, you can sit on it and drop all conceptions about it (is it the right color, size, ...) :mrgreen:

At the end the most important is keeping our butts on the cushion everyday! No matter if we buy it or made it!

gassho,
Jinyu

[jonhinkson]

Re: Zafu

Thank you all for ideas and encouragement! I have decided to make one. Already made the pattern and cut the pieces. I think I even have enough fabric left over to make a zabuton! This will be a challenge. I've never hand sewn anything.

[murasaki]

Re: Zafu

Make sure the height of the zafu is right for you. I kept thinking I should do like everyone else, and sit on a high, tightly stuffed one perched on a zabuton -- but my legs fell asleep horribly every time. At home, I was using one of those stuffed chairbacks turned on its back, to the same effect.

Once I just grabbed a folded blanket and sat on the edge, because I was tired of the chairback thingy. No pins and needles that time until much later, and they were less severe. The lower seat allowed the circulation to flow longer. Since then, my zafu has been my favorite blanket, folded up.

Perhaps one day when I have cash to spend on it, I'll get a zabuton by itself -- the height seems about the same.

gassho
Julia

[Hogen]

Re: Zafu

i'm a big fan of the buckwheat zafu. I sit seiza on a zabuton and lay the zafu on its end. the buckwheat holds its form really well.

[Amelia]

Re: Zafu

All this zafu talk has got me in the mood to sit.

:wink:

[jonhinkson]

Re: Zafu

I guess it comes down to being open to the process of change and discovery. That openness is light and I find it really exciting!

[Shonin]

Re: Zafu

I get what you're saying. But i think it's more about being open to the idea of, because none of us really know what we're getting into until one day on the cushion (or not) it hits us the face like a pimp trying to get his money.

[Kaishin]

Re: Zafu

I got a kapok zafu from dharmafield.org. Like you, I'm not at all flexible and also have a knee problem in one leg and an addled ankle in the other! I use a zabuton and a support cushion in between it and the zafu. Usually I sit half lotus (alternating legs) and sometimes burmese, and this setup works fine for me. They do take some breaking in. It is a bit of a risk to buy one since they're not cheap... It took me several weeks of regular sitting and stretching to be able to sit comfortably, but definitely better than the stack of pillows I was using previously!

[Hoyu]

Re: Zafu

Matto mentioned getting his zafu from Dharma Field. I know them well as they are in here in Minnesota. They are hand made by sangha members and have a 30 day unconditional guarantee (minus shipping)!! So how can you go wrong? Concidering what an important part sitting is to our practice it's worth it to have a nice seat for the countless hours that will be spent sitting on it.
As for what filling to go with. Curently I use a buckwheat zafu at home but have also sat on the cotton filled at Green Gulch in California. Either one works well for me to sit half lotus on but I'm small framed and only weigh 135lbs.

Gassho
John

[Dokan]

Re: Zafu

Should you be so motivated, you can also sew your own zafu!

There are some instructions on such a practice in Kosho Uchiyama's book Opening the Hand of Thought.

PS - It's a great book as well to read so you get two benefits in one purchase!

Gassho,

Shawn

[Hogen]

Re: Zafu

i'm a big fan of the buckwheat zafu. I sit seiza on a zabuton and lay the zafu on its end. the buckwheat holds its form really well.

Still a fan, but during Ango, in my extended sits, the buckwheat has not been as supportive as I'd like. As I've mentioned elsewhere, my legs don't do well in Burmese, so I sit seiza on a zafu turned on its sides. Seems to elevate the hips to a position where I'm pretty steady. As the buckwheat spreads out, my bum lowers to the ground, so to speak and I have to shift back up.

Not having ever used a kapok zafu, I'm wondering if it would cure some of these "issues" since from what I've read, its a little more firm.

[Myoku]

Re: Zafu

Not really, in my experience its even worse for what you intend it to use for. Why dont you go with a bench ?
_()_
Peter

[Hogen]

Re: Zafu

mainly because I've never tried one and that it doesn't seem as portable (though a zafu takes up space as well) though that seems to be the way I'll be going.

[Hogen]

Re: Zafu

another idea, which may be cheaper is to get some extra buckwheat hulls. hmmm....decisions decisions.

[Shugen]

Re: Zafu

Here is a link for building your own seiza bench. (It's been posted several times before - one of the measurements is off) I built one out of scraps of wood from my garage and have been using it for a couple of years.

http://www.michiganbuddhist.com/seiza/

Ron