Clearing the Mind in Comfort

BUDDHISM’S Noble Eightfold Path, an ancient guide to escaping the suffering of existence, exhorts the faithful to achieve “right mindfulness” and “right concentration” by meditating. The precepts offer no direction, however, on the appropriate design for meditation zafus, the cushions on which Buddhists pursue enlightenment.

“Traditional cushions contain either kapok, which is a natural fiber, or buckwheat,” explained Ron Hogen Green, a monk at the Zen Mountain Monastery in Mount Tremper, N.Y. “There are problems with both of them.” After extended use, buckwheat and kapok stuffings tend to develop lumps that can put stress on a meditator’s spine, Mr. Green said.

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