If you are new to meditation, you probably have a lot of questions. What is meditation? What is a meditation pillow? What is the best meditation cushion for me? It can be intimidating to talk to someone who is already experienced and knows the language and techniques. This article will try to answer some of these questions in a basic way to help you understand meditation pillows.
What is Meditation?
First, let’s touch on this topic as it lays the groundwork for everything we need to know about meditation cushions. Meditation is a generic term — much like the word “sport,” which can mean football, tennis, or figure skating. Similarly, meditation can take many forms: sitting meditation, mindfulness meditation, walking meditation, centering prayer, and even simply sitting quietly. The first thing to understand is what meditation is not. It is not about stopping the mind from thinking. Meditation is about developing an awareness beyond thinking. The mind will always think — that is what it does. Meditation is about “calming the storm”: having a moment of focus that allows the mind to think its thoughts without engaging with any of them. That is meditation in its simplest definition.
What is a Meditation Pillow?
I use “meditation pillow” and “meditation cushion” interchangeably throughout this article — they are the same thing. A meditation pillow is any fabric pillow stuffed firmly enough that it doesn’t compress easily while sitting on it. It is placed under the body to provide lift and support during meditation, helping the body remain relatively still, stable, and comfortable throughout the session.
The Zafu Meditation Cushion
Here is how to pronounce Zafu. The emphasis is on the first syllable, which sounds like “zap” minus the “p.” The second syllable sounds like “food” minus the “d.” So you have: Za-foo. Zafu is a phonetic pronunciation of the Japanese word 座蒲, which literally translates to “Seat Cattail” — because these round cushions were originally stuffed with the fluff from cattails that grow in wetlands. Since cattail fluff is difficult to harvest, the Zafu is now more commonly stuffed with kapok (“kay-pock,” rhymes with sock) or buckwheat hulls.
The Zafu is a round, pleated pillow. The pleats allow the cushion to expand while protecting the fabric and seams from tearing. Generally, one sits on the front half in a cross-legged posture — hips on the Zafu, knees and ankles on the floor or on a Zabuton mat. Some meditators prefer a kneeling posture called Seiza (say-zah), in which the Zafu is turned on its edge and one squats over it, with the knees, shins, and tops of the feet on the floor.
To learn more about fill materials, read our article on Kapok vs. Buckwheat Hulls.
The Zabuton Meditation Cushion
Here is how to pronounce Zabuton. The emphasis is on the first syllable: za-byoo-ton. Zabuton is a phonetic pronunciation of the Japanese word 座布団, which literally translates to “Japanese Cushion.” The Japanese traditionally sit on this type of rectangular mat next to a low table when eating meals.
The Zabuton is most often filled with layers of cotton batting — looser than a Zafu because it is meant to soften the area where the legs rest, not to provide lift. While the Zabuton can be used alone for sitting meditation, meditators most often pair it with a Zafu or other sitting cushion.
There are quite a few alternatives to the Zafu for the sitting cushion. Depending on your individual needs, you may wish to explore the different shapes and styles we offer at Sage Meditation, including the Cosmic Cushion, Heavenly Buckwheat Bean, and Rectangular Meditation Cushion. Browse our full meditation cushion collection to find the right fit for your practice.
Be sure to return to the Sage Meditation Blog regularly as I discuss more concepts about meditation, cushions, and other relaxation products and techniques.
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