Mike, Nice try but my attachment to my zafu is via my butt and not my discriminating mind. I don't contemplate the various attributes of my zafu while sitting. Like, 'What is it that keeps me off the floor?'.
In sesshins (Japanese Zen Buddhist meditation retreats)I have sat as long as 40 mins periods, and even up to 60 mins occasionally when the time-keeper goes to sleep. I never try to 'sit through' pain in my legs or back. I will make some adjustments to try to alleviate the pain and continue sitting, but if that fails I'll just get up, walk around a little and then return to sitting. Usually pain in the legs or back is do to bad sitting posture so I make sure my posture is correct when I return to sitting. ...Bill! ...Bill! --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Bill!, > > So it's safe to say you have no attacments to where or how you sit, other > than what is comfortable at that particular time? Same with the jhanas. They > take you deeper into your meditation and help to make the session last longer > (much like discovering a zafu that fits your bum correctly ;) But they are > not essential. There are warnings aplenty in the literature I've read against > becoming attached to them just like anything else (at the risk of becoming a > 'bliss-bunny'). > > > I usually time my sittings between 40-60 mins depending on how busy I am. If > I have time I'll do this twice a day, but at least once in the evening. I > usually sit cross-legged, but will sometimes sit Burmese style. If I'm > feeling that the session is going well (in a vipassana sense), but the pain > is becoming too distracting, then I'll stay mindful of my movements, but > change to a more comfortable position. However, the 40-60 min session is > usually done with no movement or changing of position whatsoever (I wasn't > kidding when I said vipassana is the SAS of meditation sessions!). > > Mike > > > > ________________________________ > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, 1 June 2011, 16:08 > Subject: Re: [Zen] Zen, zen and Theravada Buddhism > > >  > Mike, > > At home I have a zafu and zabuton. My zafu is x-large to accomodate my > x-large butt. I sit cross-legged now. I used to sit in a half-lotus but > never could really manage a full-lotus. I eventually found the half-lotus to > put me into a little bit of a tilt so I now just sit cross-legged, and switch > the top and bottom leg occasionally when I remember to do so. I usually sit > for 3-consequtive 20-minute periods with a 5-minute break in between to get > up and stretch, walk around or go to the toliet. > > When I travel I just stuff a pillow between my legs and sit in a kneeling > position; or if that doesn't work I just sit on a firm chair (wood is best), > sitting on the front edge with my back straight and not leaning against the > chair. > > How about you? > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@> wrote: > > > > Bill!, > > > > >or (IMO) ATTACHMENT to jhanas. > > > > Do you usually use a zafu/mat etc. to sit zazen, or do you just sit > > wherever? > > > > Mike > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
