I know there are many asanas, but why are most meditators always shown in the lotus position? Is there some advantage this one has over the others or is it just chosen because for the average person it is, in the beginning, quite unnatural? It always seems to me like nothing but a big, cartoon-like intimidation, saying if you can't do this you'll never get enlightened. The one advantage I do see in it though, is that it locks you in, no moving, and movement/jitters of the leg annoy me to no end (well, to the end of my meditation:P).

The position I usually sit in, because it comes naturally and feels comfortable (usually), is with both legs crossed, but touching the ground, not each other, so that one is behind the other. A bit diifficult to describe but if need be I could provide a picture. Anyone else who does it in this position? I also leave one hand on my knee, and one hand at my right ankle, in a sort of Shiva fashion, it's very comfortable and helps keep my posture straighter than in other ways.

Quote:

Lotus Position: Padmasana, or Lotus Pose, named so because the position puts the souls [sic] of the feet up, reminiscent of a lotus flower. The prime position for meditation, it is the most renowned of all Hatha Yoga postures.

Source

I find "souls of the feet" slightly amusing.

Keep in mind that there are many paths to The Tao, the lotus position being but one of them.


_________________
There are monsters, there are angels,
there's a peacefulness and a rage inside us all.
There's sugar, there is salt,
there's ice and there is fire in every single heart.
There are monsters, there are angels.

I think it may have to do with Pranic breathing , could it be that by sitting thus , you are joining the right hand side of your body to the left hand side of the body through placing the soles of the feet against each other.

I also think that the base chakra is this position is connecting ones self to the earth ,so by sitting in the lotus position one is connecting through the base of the spine ? rather than the feet

There are many that meditate laid prone, but I think that the lotus position is one of stability and low centre of gravity and puts you in the mindset of meditation by being the position unique to the meditation and not used for other things.

I personally think comfort , or at least lack of distraction, is best for meditation , and think the lotus position and others are to focus the mind on the body on control etc... aside from the asana of course.

One doesnt need to kneel to pray , for example , but the association is there .... kneeling with hands joined = praying.
It can also be a sign to others to leave you in peace , perhaps.....


_________________
do it while you can

One thing I was reading about the lotus position is that it makes your body whole, instead of two halfs. It breaks down the division. For example the foot on your left thigh, is really your right foot, but in the lotus position it becomes your left foot and vice versa. It connects the body. I'm probably not explaining it very well, but it made a lot of sense at the time.


_________________
"Sometimes paranoia's just having all the facts." ~ William S. Burroughs
www.questionsoftheuniverse.com

Very interesting, what everyone is saying about the lotus position basically joining the body into one solid unit. While I will have to continue my current style, it is definately worth trying. It seems almost impossible though, quite ideal for someone with skinnier legs, but mine are quite muscular. So what does everyone personally use?

I lay down... The downside is risk of falling asleep.


_________________
"Sometimes paranoia's just having all the facts." ~ William S. Burroughs
www.questionsoftheuniverse.com

NaturalMystik wrote:

I lay down... The downside is risk of falling asleep.

Me too .....


_________________
do it while you can

If there's a risk of falling asleep then are you really meditating?.. The whole point is alertness.

Crazyeugene wrote:

If there's a risk of falling asleep then are you really meditating?.. The whole point is alertness.

If there is a risk of rain, does that mean you won't see any sun?

I'd definitely say I'm meditating. The point of my meditation isn't alertness. I like to get to a state where I can free think, mentally travel, seek guidance and have visions. The easiest way for me to reach that state is through relaxed position. In a way I'm putting my body to sleep while my mind stays awake. Sometimes the mind will fall asleep. But that's ok too...


_________________
"Sometimes paranoia's just having all the facts." ~ William S. Burroughs
www.questionsoftheuniverse.com

NaturalMystik wrote:

I'd definitely say I'm meditating. The point of my meditation isn't alertness. I like to get to a state where I can free think, mentally travel, seek guidance and have visions. The easiest way for me to reach that state is through relaxed position. In a way I'm putting my body to sleep while my mind stays awake. Sometimes the mind will fall asleep. But that's ok too...

Oh, well okay, but that's actually not what I'm talking about. I'm speaking more about the yoga as talked about in the Siva Samhita, where the point of meditation is to train the will of the mind. With this kind of meditation, alertness is of the utmost importance, and the freedom of one's thoughts is the last thing desirable; rather one wants to be able to focus the thoughts on this one object, so in other words one's eyes are kept open, unless one already has their third eye perfectly open which in most cases is not true for someone starting to practice in this subject. So what I mean is, what positions do people use for the type of meditation I just described above?

When I started transcedental meditation (ayruveda) my parents taught me a "half lotus" pose. Basically one foot one the oposite leg and one underneath "indian style". It helped me get used to the lotus pose. Maybe it will help you too.