If you are new to meditation, it is important to understand that meditation in the physical world is being able to relax physically and let your thoughts, allowing your mind to enter a deep state of relaxation and the development and awareness of their inner being. The purpose of meditation is to help you achieve a higher state of consciousness and consciousness greater autonomy. For the beginner, your first objective is to achieve a more relaxed and calm mind. Sitting on cushions zafu meditation or zabuton offers a comfortable place to relax and focus your thoughts.
It is important to understand the differences between the zafu meditation cushions and zabuton and how they can be used. Zafu first and foremost ("A" as in "cat" and "u" as in "Zoo") is a round cushion and his name means "seat cattails." Today, these round cushions are made of three parts of fabric sewn together and filled with kapok or ('A' as in "day" and "o" and "rock"), a soft cotton-like fiber hulls or buckwheat. The soft, fluffy feeling zafu helps you achieve good standing posture, which helps strengthen your breathing and create a sense of relaxation.
Good posture also make you physically comfortable. When you make a better physical comfort, you can start changing your thoughts and be in the here and now. Those who practice Buddhism as a tradition of using the zafu for meditation. The pillow helps to lift your hips while sitting cross-legged, but can also be mounted on a kneeling or Seiza. The zabuton ('A' as in 'cat', 'u' as in 'pairs', and 'o' as in 'to') is used as a carpet sat a zafu. This rectangular pillow used to cushion the knees and ankles while sitting on the zafu. The zabuton can also be used by itself to sitting meditation, if you feel you do not have to lift a zafu.
