Zabuton

Zabutons are sitting cushions and an indispensible meditation accessory.

The zabuton is a cushion that is used when sitting on the floor and is a part of Japanese tatami culture where life revolves around this traditional form of flooring. It is related to the futon which is better know in the west as a cushion for sleeping on.  A zabuton is much larger than the zafu, about 20 to 30 inches square, and was once used as a status symbol denoting nobility and authority but later became commonplace among the general population in Japan.  While a zafu is used primarily for the buttocks to rest on, the zabuton accommodates the folded legs too. It is common to use both together, with the zafu atop the zabuton cushion, the latter protecting the user's ankles and knees from hard flooring while providing a base for the former.

There are several different sizes of zabuton cushions and these depend on the purpose they are put to, starting with the smallest, the chasekiban, which is used for the traditional tea ceremony to the harikoban which is the biggest and most formal.  You may require a larger size if you are a tall person (six feet or taller) as otherwise, your knees may hang over the sides. Obviously, the larger your cushion, the more you will have to carry so it is good practice to buy the smallest and lightest pieces you can find.  When shopping for one, be aware that depending on size and use, it may also be marketed as a zabuton mat or pillow.  Like a zafu, it is filled with either buckwheat husk or kapok although traditional zabuton pillows may also be filled with cotton batting. The outer cover is usually made of cotton twill nowadays though hemp cloth was commonly used for this purpose in the old days. 

The type of filling that suits you best will depend entirely on trial and error because there is such a spread in individual preferences.  It is a very good idea to try out different fillings if you can to make sure about this seemingly trivial issue since your level of success will depend hugely on your level of physical comfort and proper posture during seated meditation.  Additionally, you should find out if you are able to spend the length of your session sitting comfortably on just a zabuton without the zafu and if this is the case, it is the preferred way to go. If you discover that you are much more comfortable with the zafu, don't try to force yourself to do without it.  There is no need to feel discouraged because with practice you should be able to develop enough lower body flexibility to do without the zafu. While the most rigid rules call for sitting on the floor without any cushion at all save for a thin blanket, it should be comforting to know that a majority of advanced meditation practitioners today use meditation cushions regardless.

The outer cover should feel comfortable to exposed skin, so natural breathable fabrics are best. For the filling, kapok is softer and more spongy while buckwheat hulls are more solid.  These cushions, and specially those with cotton batting filling, may start out feeling quite fluffy when new but will assume a more compacted look and feel when broken in. Once in a while, it is a good idea to fluff them up by pushing in the sides.  The idea behind the zabuton is to feel stable and grounded without discomfort and this is usually achieved if the knees touch the floor and allow your body to form a tripod-like base but to do so with the minimum thickness of cushion.