Zafu
A zafu (座蒲 in Japanese or 蒲团 in Chinese) is a round cushion. Although also a utilitarian accessory, it is most well-known for its use in zazen Zen meditation.
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[edit] Name
Although zafu is often translated as "sewn seat" in American English, the meaning of the Japanese kanji, 座蒲, is different. za (座) means "seat", and fu (蒲) means Typha, cattail, or bulrush. As a word, zafu means a seat stuffed with Typha (the fluffy, soft, downy fibres of the disintegrating Typha heads). The Japanese zafu originates in China, where these meditation seats were originally filled with Typha. Today, that is no longer the case in Japan or China.
An alternate translation of zafu is "cushion for sitting" or "sitting cushion", where za means "sitting" or "sit" and fu means "cushion". The words zabuton, zafuton and futon are closely linked. The word zazen meaning "seated meditation" or "sitting meditation" is also closely linked. In western terms, colloquially speaking, zafu refers to a meditation cushion, and zabuton refers to the cushioned mat on which a zafu is placed.
[edit] Construction
Typical zafu are about 35 cm (14 inches) in diameter, and often about 20 cm (8 inches) high, when fluffed. Contemporary zafus are sewn from three pieces of heavy cloth, usually colored black: two round swatches of equal size for the top and the bottom of the cushion, and a long rectangle that is sewn into gathers in between. They are typically filled with either kapok (a fluffy plant fibre, similar to Typha) or buckwheat hulls. Zen Buddhist practitioners traditionally sit on a zafu when engaged in sitting meditation. The cushion raises the hips, making the entire range of cross-legged sitting positions more stable for the meditator.
[edit] Use in zazen
Before and after practicing zazen, Zen practitioners perform a gassho bow to the zafu, to fellow practitioners, and to the teacher. In many practice places, there is a prescribed form for respectfully handling zafu while walking in the meditation hall, or zendo.
A zabuton (座布団) is a rectangular cushion, about 76 cm (30 inches) by 71 cm (28 inches), that is often used under a zafu cushion to provide comfort and support when engaged in zazen. The outer cover is typically made of a heavy duty fabric and has a zipper along one side so that it can be easily removed and washed. Inside the cover, the batting is enclosed in a natural cotton casing.
[edit] External links
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