Half and Full Lotus?

[raventheblue]

Ok...my name is raventheblue and I am just beginning to learn about Buddism. I am a catholic and I plan to stay catholic but I just want to add some Buddist influences...unlike Knight of Buddah (friend). I have one quick question of the full lotus...is this when you can put both feet on your hips? Please tell me I am true because if I am not...pain! I can sit in the half lotus for probably an hour or two...unlike Knight of Buddah (he can't do it for two minutes let alone for eight like we tried). The full lotus on the other hand I can barely do for fifteen minutes or so. That is my question...Knight of Buddah...all I have to say is wow. THANKS!

[federica]

hello raventheblue.... I'll let you into a little secret... I have been a Buddhist a long time, and I've never been able to do the lotus - half, full, in bud, in bloom, wilting, in seed or anything else!! Due to a spinal injury about four years ago, my 'sitting in formal posture' days are over. But it doesn't matter. you don't have to sit in a specific position, and it's not compulsory to adopt the lotus position. But Full Lotus IS both feet on opposite hips, so you can see the soles of your feet, yes. Half-Lotus is one foot on the opposite hip, the other tucked under the opposite leg.
Welcome to our sangha. Nice to have you drop in. Any friend of Knight's is a friend of ours....! :)

[raventheblue]

thanks you have enlightened me in this question. i never knew i was this flexible....but one thing is a problem...it hurts so much after...i can barely walk. thanks!

[federica]

never try to adopt the position without doing some gentle stretches first... flex and pull the knees up to your chest, do a few squats, stretch and move the legs to warm the muscles.... this will probably help. Good Luck!

[Knight of Buddha]

Excuse me, Raven! I can sit half-lotus for over 10 minutes now thanks to my rigorous exercise program. And that's with a sprained toe and a wart on my foot too. I can't wait to get the wart cut off so I can start martial arts.

[federica]

Knight.... on a scale of one to ten, that's fifteen times more information that we needed, actually...... :lol:

[raventheblue]

now you can...

[LittleBenBuddha]

Position is not important, IMHO. I have a bad knee, so I use a Japanese style bench. Or you can stick a big pillow under your butt.