seated meditation

fltnr1

I have a severe spinal injury which,at times ditcates just what I can and can not do.(Disabled) I must use a chair during meditation at the priory.Has anyone heard of someone meditating in this manner.I do ask many questions since becoming a member and I thank all who have been so kind as to respond.This manner of meditating works well for me.Thanks

Mountains

Any position that works for you physically is fine. There is nothing magical about sitting on a cushion on the floor.

DhammaDhatu

hi

Many practitioners use chairs, due to injuries, most notably leg/knee/hip injuries

Ideally, it is best to keep the spine upright & unsupported (as in the picture below)

However, if you have a spinal injury, then use a back support if and when required (but still try to have your spine as upright as possible)

The reason for this is to allow the body to breathe & to allow the mind to be alert in an optimal manner

Even for a person without any injuries, it is better to sit in a chair if they cannot keep their spine naturally erect when sitting cross-legged

To end, the important matter is to sit at ease and not cause more injury to one's body

regards

fltnr1

This has been very helpful,blessings to you all.

Tosh

From what I've read on this forum, the practise of the Buddha sat on the floor in the lotus was purely cultural in that, that's what they did 2500 years ago in Northern India.

Had the Buddha been born in Japan, he would've knelt, and had the Buddha been born today in the West, he'd have trouble bending down to put his socks on like me and would've meditated in a chair.

I could be wrong, as I say, I'm just regurgitating stuff I've read off the interweb.

Take care.