Meditation
Why do we meditate in Buddhist Recovery?
Meditation is a vital part of our path in Buddhist recovery. Through meditation we develop practices such as loving kindness, compassion, and mindfulness. Mindfulness, especially, is important as we examine our past behaviors in addiction and live into more skillful ways of being in sobriety.
Why Adopt a Meditation Posture?
Mind and body are interdependent. Because the state of one affects the state of the other, a stable posture is important in any style of meditation. All elements of the body are to be considered: legs, arms, back, head, eyes, and hands.
The goal is to establish an awake and relaxed posture. Because the body and mind are one, our posture directly effects our breathing and state of mind. A stable, relaxed, wakeful posture helps us cultivate a mind that is stable, relaxed and wakeful.
You will find images below showing six different postures you may want to try, depending on your own needs. There are also links to several webpages with additional information on meditation posture.
Meditation Postures
Burmese
The Burmese position, in which the legs are crossed and both feet rest flat on the floor.
Quarter Lotus
The quarter lotus, where the right foot is placed up onto the lower left leg, the left foot tucked under.
Half Lotus
The half lotus, where the right foot is placed up onto the left thigh, the left foot tucked under.
Full Lotus
The full lotus, where each foot is placed up on the opposite thigh.
Chair
Using a chair. To ground the body, keep your feet flat on the floor. You can use a cushion beneath you on the chair, sitting on the forward third of it. It’s best to sit forward on the chair so you’re supporting your spine. If, due to back issues, you need to lean into the back of the chair, try placing a cushion between the small of your back and the back of the chair to keep your spine straight and vertical.
Seizsa
The seiza position. You can use a pillow between your legs to keep the weight off your ankles, or use a seiza bench to keep the weight off your feet and to keep your spine straight.
