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Thank You for Wonderful Service! I appreciate the personal attention my order received. It [Economy Zabuton, Kapok Support Cushion, Economy Meditation Bench] arrived as promised (in time for going on my retreat). I am so fortunate to have found Sage Meditation site and look forward to doing business with you again. Thank You!
Patricia H.
Washington, DC
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Saturday, 03 May 2008 |
 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 Zafus 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 cushions 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 Zafus and Cosmic Cushions ordered by 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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Saturday, 26 April 2008 |
Bisphenol-A: Another Compelling Reason to Stop Using Plastics
Canada, our progressive neighbor to the north, has stepped forward to make the right decision again. On April 18th 2008, Canada became the first country to ban Bisphenol-A (BPA) from baby bottles. The ban comes after repeated evidence that this chemical leeches out of the plastic and contaminates the liquids in the bottle. The evidence further suggests that BPA, which emulates the estrogen hormone, can cause problems with brain and physical development in children, and may cause cancer in adults. While the studies are not conclusive, they were obviously compelling enough to cause the Canadian Government to step in and make this decision.
To read more about Canada's ban on BPA, read this Washington Post Article.
BPA is used mainly to produce plastics that are clear and quite hard. These plastics are typically used in baby bottles as well as in other types of water bottles. These bottles have the number 7 recycling symbol on them. The number 7 represents "all other plastics" and are not typically recycled in smaller communities. BPA is not used in the production of the more common plastics with the 1,2 or 5 recycling numbers.
At this time, many of the companies that are producing plastic bottles with BPA are reformulating the plastic without BPA. This is great news, because it is getting easier to find BPA-free bottles. Here are some examples of BPA-free bottles:
Born Free BPA-free Plastic Baby Bottles
Tree Frog BPA-free Reusable Water Bottle
Camelback BPA-free Better Water Bottle
In addition to this information on the danger of some plastics, the National Geographic program, Strange Days on Planet Earth, has presented new dangers on the accummulation of plastics in our environment. The episode, "Dirty Secrets" recently played on our Public Television. See this link for a preview: Strange Days on Planet Earth, Wisconsin Public Television.
We know that most plastics simply do not go away. Small, fragile plastics slowly break into smaller and smaller pieces, but most large plastics will take centuries to break apart. This time of year, after the snow has melted, we see hundreds of plastic soda and water containers in the ditches. The rains come and wash these plastic bottles down to the streams, lakes, rivers, and eventually oceans of the world.
National Geographic's program shows the devastating impact these plastics are having on our environment and the animals that live in it. They tell us of a strange phenomenon where shoreline birds are picking up small brightly colored pieces of plastic such as cigarette lighters and bottled-water caps and feeding these items to their young. Eventually, the infant birds starve to death because they can never expell the bits of plastic and there is not enough room left for nutritional food.
This additional concern leaves us all wondering if we can continue to consciously allow ourselves to disregard the effect of disposable plastics. But, we have too easily been lulled into the convenience and everyday-ness of plastics in our lives.
A real conscious choice is to use plastics reponsibly or eliminate them altogether. If you are buying bottled water, re-use the bottle a few times before getting rid of it. When it comes time to get rid of it, be certain to recycle the bottle. If you have a reusable water bottle and you are not sure if it is BPA-free, replace it - again, making certain that you recycle the old bottle.
Better still, stop using plastics altogher. Glass is still a safe alternative, but it breaks quite easily and the cap or lid may be coated with a thin later of plastic containing, you guessed it, BPA. The next best option to glass is stainless steel. Drinking containers are available from Klean Kanteen. These stainless steel containers will last a long time and will not introduce any chemicals into your beverage, your body, or the environment.
Changing to BPA-free plastic bottles or stainless steel is the reponsible thing to do. It ensures better health for everyone and every thing on our precious little planet.
Thank you for reading,
Jay |
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Saturday, 19 April 2008 |
It's been said, "Poor people own big TVs, Rich people own big libraries". Of course, the saying refers to two ideas: that television drains our intelligence and books feed it, and that people who are poor in spirit and mind tend to engage in passive activities whereas those who are rich in spirit and mind are engaged.
 Over the past 7 weeks I have been studying Eckhart Tolle's not-so-new book, "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose", and participating in Oprah's weekly Monday night webcast.
The webcasts are available at Oprah's website, in case you would like to view them. Between Eckhart's unassuming charm and Oprah's down-to-earth enthusiasm, the webcasts have truly enhanced the experience of this book.
A New Earth is all about the Ego: the one present within each of us and the Collective Ego. This book brings about an awareness of the Ego's role in human suffering. We suffer from our own unconscious egoic behaviors and from the collective ego, which has been the cause of war and other atrocities against humanity.
The first half of this 309-page, easy-to-read book fully defines the core of the Ego and how it manifests itself in our daily lives. Eckhart's insightful writing helps us to understand how our individual Ego developed into the "Pain Body"; a concept first introduced in "The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment".
The second half of the book shows us how to break free from the grip of the Ego. For the most part, developing an awareness of the Ego will begin the process of healing from it. Once you begin to live without the Ego in full control of your life, you will discover your Life's Purpose.
This book is nothing new, however. Throughout the book, Eckhart refers to the wisdom of those who talked about the ego thousands of years ago. Eckhart has simply put this in the context of modern humanity and culture. In that sense it is refreshing material that we can all benefit from.
Reading this book and watching the webcasts has had a powerful impact on my life. Just having participated has resulted in changes. When I see the play of the Ego in myself and others, I find myself laughing at how rediculous this entity is. You can't help but be transformed by this book.
Sadly, I have a large TV and only one bookcase full of books. Recently I canceled my subscription to cable TV - mainly to save on the ever-increasing expense for something I have little time for and interest in. The new digital TV broadcasts look great and our Public TV station has 5 digital channels. I pick up a new book periodically and the quality and volume of books in my library has improved. Maybe I'm making some progress.
Thank you for reading,
Jay
See more Recommended Reading from Sage Meditation
If you have questions or would like to comment on this blog, please feel free to contact me on our Contact Us page. |
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