Zafu Meditation Cushion

The zafu cushion is by far the most commonly used and versatile type.

A zafu, which means "cushion for sitting" in one translation ("za" means "sitting" and "fu" means "cushion"), is a small, round cushion that the Japanese use commonly while sitting on the floor.  It is most well-known in the west however as an accessory for meditation called the zafu meditation cushion, zafu pillow or simply zafu cushion.   

Zafu cushions are typically between 10 and 15 inches in diameter and about 8 inches high--small enough to hold only the hips above the ground while the feet rest crossed on the floor in front of us.  Modern zafus normally have a hard-wearing but comfortable fabric cover and the most "authentic" among them are filled with kapok (a soft plant fiber)  or buckwheat hulls.  Which type you choose will depend on your preferences--a kapok zafu will give a little when sat on but can be easily fluffed up again by hand after use while a buckwheat zafu is like a beanbag, heavier and more solid-feeling because it does not flatten out under you like a zafu cushion but conforms to the body instead.  Other small cushions that are crescent shaped or square also pass for zafus because they do essentially the same thing and one or the other may work better for you depending on your lower body flexibility and build.  A larger sitting accessory, called a zabuton, is used to provide cushioning for the feet as well and is typically used along with a zafu when the floor surface is too hard or uncomfortable for the feet and ankles. 

A zafu cushion naturally encourages the body to adopt the best sitting posture for meditation which should provide a feeling of being comfortably and stably grounded. Such a position allows one to remain relaxed but alert while simultaneously allowing for the free flow of the breath, blood circulation and subtle energies that meditation seeks to harness.  Holding such a stable position for anywhere from 10 minutes to a couple of hours or more is crucial for successful meditation because it is possible to topple over if one is not careful and loses one's sense of orientation during deep contemplation.

There are several ways that one can sit on a zafu but the most common is with the legs crossed easily in front with the knees touching the floor and with one feet in front of the other for the most stability. The crescent zafu variations are best for this style of sitting.  A more traditional position will have one foot resting on the opposite thigh but this requires a lot of flexibility in the hips and feet.  The yoga "lotus pose" does not need a zafu meditation cushion and is the most difficult of all the sitting poses but also the most effective.  It requires one to fold both feet up on both thighs in an interlocked positon to provide the most stable and grounded position possible but this pose is managable by only with long practice as we in the west are not used to sitting on the floor and crossing our legs as is common in the orient. It is very important to not force oneself to assume this pose unless it is done as part of a competently supervised yoga class in graduated steps.  Other common sitting postures include the Zen kneeling position called seiza where you rest your buttocks on the upturned feet that form a natural cushion to sit on. If your legs are not flexible enough to allow you to do so, you can use a zafu between your feet to make this position easier. This position is similar to the yoga Vajrasana pose.

For most meditation practitioners, the zafu meditation cushion or something like it is very highly recommended.