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[F4UCorsair]

rockyssdt said

I kneel on a good quality thick piece of furniture grade foam (1m square) with a zafu cushion positioned on its edge under my bottom.  My bottom and the two knees form the three pointed stability, whilst the height of the cushion on its edge gives me an upright posture with a slightly forward lean making me at one with the force of gravity.

It may be worth trying one of these kneeling chairs, very comfortable for long periods of time.  They were originally sold as ergonomic office chairs, and are adjustable  just as a normal office chair.  They give three point stability that you mention.

Edited by F4UCorsair, 2011-11-14 04:04:51.

[fabianfred]

F4UCorsair, on 2011-11-14 04:03:17, said:

rockyssdt said

I kneel on a good quality thick piece of furniture grade foam (1m square) with a zafu cushion positioned on its edge under my bottom.  My bottom and the two knees form the three pointed stability, whilst the height of the cushion on its edge gives me an upright posture with a slightly forward lean making me at one with the force of gravity.

It may be worth trying one of these kneeling chairs, very comfortable for long periods of time.  They were originally sold as ergonomic office chairs, and are adjustable  just as a normal office chair.  They give three point stability that you mention.

Those are very good...originally made by a firm in Scandinavia called Balans.
I brought one like the swivel one on the right and then made a copy of the folding one from metal tube. Long time ago so I never got to meditate in one. They also had a stool type with seat and you kneel on the ground...bit like the Japanese position.

[JRinger]

moe666, on 2011-07-26 23:54:33, said:

When I go to the forest monastary the monk  lets me set in a chair, no way at 65 will I be setting in lotus and having a good experience. Having said that over the years when insight has come to me it has never been while setting in meditation. Thats not to say that my meditation didn't lead to the insight but that my insights have just come under various circumstances and occassions.

I think in the end it doesn't matter what position one meditates in as long as one meditates.

finally, someone with common sense...There are many 'meditation techniques' other than sitting in the lotus position.
There are 108 beads on the traditional mala, each depicting a different way of meditation; sitting, walking/vipasana, working, etc., etc.  Don't limit yourself to just sitting...for me, I found 'working' the best meditation and the end product is far superior to something done without meditation or consciousness.

[Polsci]

Glad to hear from the update that OP can sit longer than from the time of his initial posting.

Another thing to consider is that with Buddha's Hindu background, he may have been a practicing Yogi. Thus, he was able to sit in the lotus position for so long. So you might want to add Yoga asanas and Yogic breathing into your meditation practice. Along with strength and flexibility that you'll gain, you should be able to attain the longer Padmasana.

It's common for Westerners to have to put a lot of effort into this hip-opening position due to the different physiology and anatomy.

Best of luck to you!

[rockyysdt]

F4UCorsair, on 2011-11-14 04:03:17, said:

rockyssdt said

I kneel on a good quality thick piece of furniture grade foam (1m square) with a zafu cushion positioned on its edge under my bottom.  My bottom and the two knees form the three pointed stability, whilst the height of the cushion on its edge gives me an upright posture with a slightly forward lean making me at one with the force of gravity.

It may be worth trying one of these kneeling chairs, very comfortable for long periods of time.  They were originally sold as ergonomic office chairs, and are adjustable  just as a normal office chair.  They give three point stability that you mention.

An excellent chair ergonomically speaking.

Unfortunately there were many inferior copies of this design.

The models made by Balans (as Fred mentions) were of high quality but unfortunately very expensive. An original Balans design as depicted can sell for 30,000 baht. A sum better spent on those in need.<br>

Edited by rockyysdt, 2011-12-16 13:07:12.

[khaowong1]

fabianfred, on 2011-07-20 16:59:59, said:

I have short legs so can only get into the full-lotus without my feet being on the thighs....it is more comfortable than the two layer cross-legged for me.
I tell my students to use a pillow to raise their hips by and inch or two to keep balanced whilst relaxed and not feel like they are toppling over backwards.
The more important thing IMHO is to have the back straight. This allows easy breathing and tends to prevent falling asleep.

Thanks Fred, excellant tips. I know many foreign monks who can't sit like the asians can.  Many actually sit in chairs. I myself sit on the floor in a Thai legs to the side style, sitting on a small cushion.  I haven't met any Thai monks who object, snicker yes, but object no.

[rockyysdt]

khaowong1, on 2011-12-18 10:45:28, said:

fabianfred, on 2011-07-20 16:59:59, said:

I have short legs so can only get into the full-lotus without my feet being on the thighs....it is more comfortable than the two layer cross-legged for me.
I tell my students to use a pillow to raise their hips by and inch or two to keep balanced whilst relaxed and not feel like they are toppling over backwards.
The more important thing IMHO is to have the back straight. This allows easy breathing and tends to prevent falling asleep.

Thanks Fred, excellant tips. I know many foreign monks who can't sit like the asians can.  Many actually sit in chairs. I myself sit on the floor in a Thai legs to the side style, sitting on a small cushion.  I haven't met any Thai monks who object, snicker yes, but object no.

Are both legs to the same side K?

If they are wouldn't that tilt your torso and cause you to tense one side in order to straighten up?

Tension would then lead to rampant thoughts.

[huli]

Earlier this year I gave it my best shot to adopt a half lotus position for meditation and I was hoping I would get used to it eventually. It turned out I could only do it sitting on a cushion, plus have cushions under each of my knees. But I was still getting numb and it didn't seem worth it. It was especially hard for my right leg.
Then I decided to just sit in a wooden chair and that was going along fairly well. I was comfortable anyways.
Now I have noticed that my left leg is limber enough to put comfortably up on the chair, and it gives me a more stable feeling. I still have my poor arthritic right leg down with my foot on the floor.
It's kinda weird, I suppose, to have one foot down and one up, but it actually feels more stable than having both feet on the floor. It keeps my butt from sliding forward.
I doubt anyone would recommend this position but it is actually the best I have found considering my right leg is gimpy.

[fabianfred]

use what works for you...don't get caught up in rites and rituals...

[lungmi]

Suññatā (voidness, emptiness) is a good meditation position too.
Tan Buddhadasa recommends it for the toilet, mind and body are connected. What you took you have to give, the useful things your body (and your mind) took you can preserve, the useless stuff you have to give back to nature.
Suññatā is  a signboard  in some Suan Mokh Branch Wats over the toilets. (I don't joke you)

[sabaijai]

huli, on 2011-12-19 16:12:52, said:

Earlier this year I gave it my best shot to adopt a half lotus position for meditation and I was hoping I would get used to it eventually. It turned out I could only do it sitting on a cushion, plus have cushions under each of my knees. But I was still getting numb and it didn't seem worth it. It was especially hard for my right leg.
Then I decided to just sit in a wooden chair and that was going along fairly well. I was comfortable anyways.
Now I have noticed that my left leg is limber enough to put comfortably up on the chair, and it gives me a more stable feeling. I still have my poor arthritic right leg down with my foot on the floor.
It's kinda weird, I suppose, to have one foot down and one up, but it actually feels more stable than having both feet on the floor. It keeps my butt from sliding forward.
I doubt anyone would recommend this position but it is actually the best I have found considering my right leg is gimpy.

Not unlike the bodhisattva Lokanatha

[huli]

sabaijai, on 2012-01-24 15:46:05, said:

huli, on 2011-12-19 16:12:52, said:

Earlier this year I gave it my best shot to adopt a half lotus position for meditation and I was hoping I would get used to it eventually. It turned out I could only do it sitting on a cushion, plus have cushions under each of my knees. But I was still getting numb and it didn't seem worth it. It was especially hard for my right leg.
Then I decided to just sit in a wooden chair and that was going along fairly well. I was comfortable anyways.
Now I have noticed that my left leg is limber enough to put comfortably up on the chair, and it gives me a more stable feeling. I still have my poor arthritic right leg down with my foot on the floor.
It's kinda weird, I suppose, to have one foot down and one up, but it actually feels more stable than having both feet on the floor. It keeps my butt from sliding forward.
I doubt anyone would recommend this position but it is actually the best I have found considering my right leg is gimpy.

Not unlike the bodhisattva Lokanatha

Wow, that's cool, thanks for posting that. This fellow reportedly guards the Buddhist teachings until the next Buddha appears. I don't think I have ever seen another one leg up and one down posture in a statue or picture. I'm still convinced this is the best posture for me.