Make your own travel zafu

For zazen when traveling, a travel zafu is essential. The ideal travel zafu is light, collapsable, and does not take up much space in your luggage. It is not too difficult to make your own travel zafu, which is basically a zafu cover willed with an a partially inflated beach ball.  Sewing instructions for a zafu cover can be found here.  It takes about 3-4 hours, depending on how good you are with a sewing machine, and longer if you sew by hand.  You may want to consider a sturdy fabric, as outdoor zazen while traveling can be very inspiring, and the covers can get dirty.  A supply of beachballs can be ordered from various sources, and I find that the 20" size works pretty well.  Remember, the beachball will only be partially inflated.  I have tried a few things for a travel zabutan, but they are all bulky, such as yoga mats or air matresses.  If you have any suggestions, please contribute!

Beach Zazen

Traveling with family, it is hard to find the time and place for zazen.  The room at the inn was crowded with the shrapnel of clothing and stuff from 4 people.  So, I took my inflatable zafu down to the dunes by the ocean, and sat on a bluff overlooking rocks and sand.  It seemed fitting, as the travel zafu is basically a beach ball with a fabric cover.  The sound of the waves made concentrating on Mu very difficult.  A dull roar, pulsating, changing, the sound never the same, and punctuated by the gulls.  Thoughts of my family, and guilt at taking this time away from them.  Sunset, and returning to them, always, like the breath, like the koan....

Practice

Both of my daughters are learning string instruments.  The older is very disciplined, practices almost every day, pushes herself with new challenges.  You can see the steady pace of her progress, and hear the beauty of her music.  The younger is more temperamental, and gets caught up in the suffering that comes with the difficulty of learning new things.  Two sides, and in both I see myself.  On the way to the Zendo early this morning, I was tired and grumbling about my small suffering with this commitment to sit every day.  So early, it seemed particularly burdensome.  Suddenly, I was thinking about my younger daughter who seems to struggle and suffer with with musical practice, but does practice almost every day, growing steadily. Her struggle and perseverance spurred me on.  Practice....and practice.  Gumble...sit on the zafu....MU!