I'm not usually one to gush about a product at all, nevermind within 3 hours of receiving my delivery, but this time, I can't help it.

I got the cosmic cushion and zabuton set with idea that formally acknowledging my desire to meditate with some nice cushions would help me be a bit more dedicated to my practice.

I didn't expect it to be a seating solution for when I work from home.

I was in the middle of my workday when my delivery showed up. I took a few moments to unpack my goodies and try them out. I liked the solid feel of the buckwheat hull filled cushion that I pulled my laptop over and continued with my calls and work.

I just realized I've now been sitting here working for three hours, with no back support and zero back pain. My coffee table is now the perfect height for my laptop. I didn't expect that I'd be saving a couple hundred dollars by not having to buy a real office chair when I made this purchase, so thank you! This will make my random work from home days much more enjoyable, not to mention what I hope it will do for my meditation time.

Thank you again.

Kerry S
Houston, TX

Blog

Meditation for the Rest of Us

Wednesday, 29 October 2008 10:14

Many of us discover meditation practice through a friend or acquaintance. Some of us find meditation through other practices such as yoga or karate lessons. We know that meditation is not a new idea - it's been around since the 1960s when we first heard about strange and wild-looking men from the east coming to the US and teaching this thing called meditation. We were afraid of it because it seemed cultish and definitely unacceptable to our mainstream religious beliefs. Of course, we now know that meditation is neither a cult nor counter to most religions.

In Professor Richard Davidson's talk, "Be Happy Like a Monk" we are told that, "Meditation is like the word 'sport'; it comes in many forms and practices." To many people, the question becomes, "which is the right meditation style for me?" The answer to that question lies in the term 'meditation practice'. Like anything else we perfect in life, it takes practice. And, practice means trying various techniques on a regular basis until we find the one that best suits our needs. This can change over time as new ideas are introduced to us, as our bodies age, and as we are met with new experiences.

Lisa Hepner, one of our customers and a meditation teacher in Oregon, was recently interviewed by a television station in her local community. Lisa's website, Project Meditate, offers to help people get started and create a habit of meditation. Her method does not adhere to any specific doctrine of meditation. In fact, Lisa adopts the simplest form of meditation, which is to understand that meditation happens in many moments throughout our day - it doesn't have to be a rigorous and painstaking process. Here is Lisa's television interview:

NOTE: Unfortunately, Lisa's interview is no longer online. However, I encourage you to visit Project Meditate to learn more about Lisa's meditation teaching.

Lisa certainly makes it simple and stress-free to begin a meditation practice.

So, if you are contemplating starting meditation or you are new to meditation, make it easy on yourself. There is no goal to reach and no need to put yourself through a lot of stress. When you begin to achieve some level of satisfaction in your meditation practice simply allow yourself to work on going deeper. When you are ready to make a greater commitment to meditation practice, consider some meditation cushions and a meditation timer. But don't rush yourself and don't run out to get all the equipment you need in one big shopping spree. Take your time, enjoy your meditations, and savor the peace that meditation brings into your life.

Thank you for reading,

Jay

If you would like to comment on this blog or have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Gong Clocks & Spiritual Growth

Monday, 13 October 2008 06:55

Today's blog comes from one of our customers, Andrea S in Wayland, MA. Andrea purchased 3 Gong Alarm Clocks for herself and her children. Here's what Andrea has to say:

I mean, these kind of clocks are almost a must-have these days if you are into spiritual growth. Even the most mellow individual has to have a schedule, and a schedule requires some kind of timer. Your clocks and timers are really the best choice.

By the way, I love my clock-it's a joy. It's wonderful to wake up to that gentle gong sound. My sound level only needs to be '1' because I've trained myself to start to wake by 5:30AM (see 'How to Be An Early Riser part I and II' on Google). The gong is just a nice 'reminder' that gives me peace of mind. My little 6 year old daughter's setting is on '3' and she is really enjoying the clock. It's waking her up easily and she seems thankful to have such a special clock all for herself.

-on children and the Gong clocks: meditation results in simple living, at least that's what I've found. The material clutter falls away and in terms of home decor and other 'stuff' you go for what is simple, elegant and supportive of your meditation practice. As young as they are, I really think children are very open to this message. They seem to get it instinctively.

My daughter is only in kindergarten, and she told me that she "loves the sound of soft bells, she is scared of that beeep beeeep" (the clock we started with this school year). Waking up peacefully is incredibly important, as it can affect your entire day, and life.

Why not wake up to soothing sounds in childhood and thus have a more peaceful life from the start? Why wait? It's one of the nicest gifts you can give yourself. As you wrote, as a child, your own meditation practice gave you a real sense of contentment, even though you didn't know your sanctuary was called 'meditation.' Read about my personal story as the owner of Sage Meditation.

The clocks that you sell are such a boon to the meditative lifestyle, I can't help but conclude that my daughter's clock will positively affect her childhood and her life because of how her alarm clock gently starts her day. It's just common sense. When you get down to it, it's very simple things that make life enjoyable and meaningful: meditation and study, delicious healthy food, physical activity, deep sleep, a clean tranquil living environment, nature.

Your clocks really do help to support all of these priorities-directly and indirectly. With the economy changing a bit, life's simple priorities come into bold relief, and because the clocks serve as a reminder and support for what really nurtures us, I think your sales will actually increase as the months go on. Best to you.

Andrea S, Wayland, MA

First, let me say "thank you ", Andrea for your positive and insightful thoughts. As a postscript to this message from Andrea, we had been talking about how the economy has affected business. Like most businesses across the country, Sage Meditation has seen a decline in sales. We along with everyone else, hope the economy will recover quickly and reasonably.

Thank you for reading,

Jay

If you would like to comment on this blog or have any questions, please feel free to Contact Us.

Kapok or Buckwheat

Saturday, 03 May 2008 10:12

Customers frequently contact us with the question, "Kapok or Buckwheat Hulls?" Many of our cushions are available with both fill materials and each material offers destinct pros and cons.

Kapok has been the traditional fill for Zafu cushions for thousands of years. It is a fluffy cotton-like material that comes from the Kapok trees of Asia and in some regions of Southern United States and Central and South America. The Kapok trees grow enormous seed pods that, when mature, burst open to reveal the downy material laden with tiny seeds. The wind catches the fluff and carries the seeds for miles.

Buckwheat Hulls are the outer shell of the buckwheat grain. This outer shell is too hard to be eaten by humans or animals, so it is a waste product as far as food is concerned.

Both Kapok and Buckwheat Hulls make a great fill material for all kinds of cushions, pillows, and mats. Kapok had been used for floatation devices before the widespread use of plastic foam material.

In recent years, Buckwheat Hulls have become a popular fill for the zafu and other meditation cushions. The reason is that buckwheat hulls conform so well to the shape of the body resulting in a comfortable and stable cushion for meditation. It is similar to sitting in a mound of beach sand and, therefore, can provide a more grounded feel - please excuse the pun.

Let's briefly go over some of the pros and cons for each type of fill:

Kapok

Pros
1. It's the traditional fill and has been used for thousands of years.
2. Because of its cotton-like nature, it feels softer than buckwheat.
3. Though the kapok cushions can flatten with use, they can be revived by squeezing and fluffing up the cushion. This will also restore lift.
4. Kapok is light weight compared to Buckwheat Hulls.

Cons
1. The level of kapok cannot easily be adjusted - the fibers are blown into the cushion. Removing kapok from a cushion is not recommended and stuffing more kapok into the cushion manually can result in a lumpy cushion with a "Cottage Cheese" look to it.
2. The kapok has a spongy but firm feel to it. However, it can be somewhat like sitting on a ball and feel a bit roly poly or wobbly.
3. Restuffing a kapok cushion really requires professional equipment - using a yard stick or long wooden dowel will result in uneven areas and lumps.

Buckwheat Hulls

Pros
1. Especially with Sage Meditation's Zafus and other meditation cushions, the Buckwheat Hull cushions are adjustable. They each have a zippered opening, which we use to fill the cushions. This opening will allow you to remove and re-add buckwheat hulls to adjust the height and comfort of the cushion.
2. Buckwheat hulls conform to the shape of the body and provide a grounded feel.
3. Buckwheat hull cushions do not flatten or require fluffing up.

Cons
1. Some customers find that Buckwheat Hull cushions are a bit hard. Just like sitting on sand, it can be a firm surface if you don't have some of your own natural cushion "down there".
2. The Buckwheat Hulls make a bit of a scrunching sound when you move around on them.
3. Buckwheat Hull cushions weigh about twice as much as kapok cushions.
4. The hulls break down after awhile, but are easy to replace or add to through the zippered opening.

The Buckwheat Hull cushions have become increasingly more popular. More than 90% of the Zafu and Cosmic Cushion orders from our customers have Buckwheat Hull fill. The customers who choose Kapok typically choose this product because they want the traditional cushion. Others have chosen the Kapok because it is a bit more comfortable to the touch.

It is best if you can test a few cushions locally before making a purchase, but we stand by our 30-day return and exchange policy. We want you to have the best cushion for your need.

Thank you for reading,

Jay

If you would like to comment on this blog or have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

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