"The essence of the Dharma is taming the mind." He said further, "In a quiet, solitary place, on a comfortable meditation mat and cushion, you should sit in the proper meditation posture, your back erect, maintaining the correct position of the body, and engage in the practice of samadhi."Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche Dharma Paths
Although some people meditate while engaging in another activity such as walking, most meditation involves sitting still. In the process of remaining physically still and focusing the mind, we are able to still the complex physical and mental activities that keep us busy all the time.
Traditional Hindu and Buddhist meditations involve specific postures, or poses, that are believed to assist in calming the mind. Buddhist and Hindu paintings show figures seated in a variety of postures, most frequently full lotus and the Burmese posture. Some statues and paintings show the figure seated on a platform with one leg extended downward, while the other is bent close to the body with the sole of the foot against the opposite thigh. From the variety of artistic depictions, it seems evident that each Buddha or teacher had a preferred style. They probably arrived at this preference through trial and error, much as you are about to do. There are as many positions for the arms as there are for the legs and feet. Here again, you want to find something that is comfortable for you.
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