"
Within every moment of thought you should see yourself that your
fundamental nature is pure. You should cultivate for yourself, pratice for
yourself, and accomplish for yourself the enlightenment of buddhahood."
--Huineng
[1]
The position we take teaches our body how to be still, and slowly the mind catches on. The position expresses stability and acceptance, and brings the mind into line. However, meditation does not depend on any conditions, physical or otherwise, so it is not necessary to use any particular posture – part of the practice is maintaining the mind of meditation throughout daily life, when we move through many postures besides traditional sitting poses.
It is virtually inevitable that we will feel pain sometimes while meditating. There is a balance between taking care of oneself and indulging the aversion to discomfort. There is no need to strain to get into or hold a position. Respect the requirements and capabilities of the body. Experiment to find what positions can be held comfortably for the longest time. Over time, bodies change; what used to be comfortable will no longer work, and other variants on the posture open up. Zazen is a constant discovery of what it means to sit and meditate.
On the other hand, it is important to recognize the difference between pain that could be damaging, and discomfort that we can live with. Especially in the beginning discomfort is common as we adapt to unfamiliar poses. Although it may seem difficult initially, developing good meditation posture is very valuable because over time there are less imbalances and problems. Physical discomfort is also a common scapegoat for our resistance to meditation; watching our minds can make us uncomfortable, and the physical position becomes an excuse to distract ourselves by shifting position or abandoning the meditation.
>Posture
---Legs
---Torso
---Hands and head
Breath
Bowing
Mind
Where
When