Zabuton

Zabutons are sitting cushions and an indispensable 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 the traditional form of flooring and is related to the futon which is much 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.  While a zafu is used primarily for the buttocks to rest on, the zabuton can accommodate 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 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 six feet or taller as otherwise, your knees may hang over the sides. However, be aware that the larger your cushion, the more you will have to carry.  When shopping for one, be aware that depending on size and use, it may be called a zabuton mat or zabuton pillow.  Like zafus, they are 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 in the old days, they used hemp cloth. 

The type of filling that suits you best will depend on trial and error and it is a good idea to make sure about this since success depends on your level of physical comfort and proper posture during seated meditation.  You should particularly find out if you are able to spend an hour sitting comfortably on just a zabuton without the zafu and if this is the case, it is the preferred way to go.  However, you should also try it along with the zafu just to make sure before you decide. If you discover that you feel much more comfortable with the zafu, please go with that as there is no need to feel discouraged because you are a part of the overwhelming majority and with practice you will 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 a thin blanket, it should be comforting to know that a majority of advanced meditation practitioners today use meditation cushions.

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.