Although nowadays people have invented all sorts of gorgeous equipment for practitioners, a mat and a cushion still remain the simplest and the best tools for meditation practice. Often, the mat is made into oval or circular shape in order to illustrate the Buddhism idea that we all have the potential to achieve the state of perfection through our practice. The mat is often filled with hard particles, partially due to the comfortable reason, and partially due to the Buddhism idea that everything is as transient as small particles.
The cushion is usually made into deep colors, particularly blue or black. This choice of color is also intentional: it represents the darkness that covers up our true heart, and by meditating using a dark cushion, practitioners will be always aware that they need to cross over the darkness to find their true nature.
The cushion is usually made into deep colors, particularly blue or black. This choice of color is also intentional: it represents the darkness that covers up our true heart, and by meditating using a dark cushion, practitioners will be always aware that they need to cross over the darkness to find their true nature.