Hi all! I don’t think there are any sutta references for this question, so just looking for others’ experiences.
I bought my first meditation cushion a year ago, a circular zafu with buckwheat hulls as the filling. Even when I first got it I realized after a few months that it wasn’t “full enough” to give me the height I needed, and that I had to buy 1LB of extra hulls and started using the zippers on the cushion to open it up and add more hulls 'till my back was comfortable on long sits (i.e. to give it enough vertical height under me).
At first the cushion was about 2LB total and I added 1/3 of a pound worth of hulls to get it just right.
Over time, I noticed it got “deflated” again and again, and slowly poured more hulls in to keep it even (when my back hurt, I’d add more). I kept hoping that eventually it would be full enough and I could stop.
Eventually though, the 1LB bag ran out and it kept getting more and more “deflated”. Because I kept pouring in hulls though, it now weighs a LOT (3LB I guess), and if I keep adding more, I’m worried it will get insanely heavy (I bring it with me when I travel)
I have now ordered a new 2LB bag and have to choose between replacing the hulls completely, or just adding more and more. I’m not sure how heavy it will eventually get but also don’t want to have a “buckwheat habit” that requires pounds of new ones every year, as they are shockingly expensive for a “food byproduct”.
So what are you experiences with buckwheat hull pillows over time?
Do you find you need to just keep adding them until it’s permanently full? Will it ever be permanently full?
Should I remove the “crushed” hulls with a strainer and add fresh replacements?
I meditate for about an hour a day, is it normal that I have so much deflation in my pillow?
Thanks for any help!