Meditation.
Practice it for 8 weeks and your brain starts undergoing observable physical changes.
Meditation, especially mindfulness, helps you to let go of redundant thoughts and tensions in body and mind by simply being aware of each moment as it unfolds, without attachment and judgement. From such a simple technique can arise so profound physical changes in the structure of the brain.
Although meditation can in some cases be defined as a freedom from the capricious impressions of the world and materialism, we humans, creatures of habit, do sometimes need reminders in the form of physical objects to keep us steadfast, alert and in tune with existence. We’ve discussed meditation products for your home before, including cushions, chairs and benches but also meditation clothes, jewelry and tools like mala beads.
In this article we’ll go through another set of useful meditation item(s), namely meditation tables, shrines and altars. Which are sometimes lumped into one and the same category and which is indeed what we’ll do in this list!
Lets begin!
Our Favorite Pick: Zen’s Bamboo Sofa Side Table
Our favorite pick is a small coffee table + a cute sofa made from eco-friendly natural bamboo. What we like the most with this table is it’s design, as it exudes relaxation and creativity lumped into one package.
The surface of the table is waterproof so you don’t have to worry about spilling liquids on it. This is a highly versatile and multi-functional table which is ideal for a serene meditation session accompanied with a nice cup of tea.
- Weighs about 14.1 pounds
- Measures 39.2 x 19.5 x 12.6 inches
- Can be used for different purposes like meditation, as a coffee table, children’s homework table and etc.
Runner-Up: DharmaObjects Solid Mango Wood Prayer Puja Shrine
The beauty of this meditation table with the chosen spiritual symbol displayed on the top makes this one of our first picks. It’s hand carved out of natural wood, hence the uniqueness (features and perks) of each table.
The rather high stature of the table makes it a good choice to be used for other purposes than meditation, like example as a table for a cup of coffee, tea, magazines or your favorite books.
Other than that, the table is simple to assemble and has a nice natural woody smell to it.
- Weighs ca 6.1 pounds
- Measures about 12.6 x 12.6 x 4.9 inches
- Comes in 4 different designs (Yin Yang, Shanti, Crescent Moon, Tree of Life)
Best Multi-Functional: SONGMICS Multi Function Lapdesk Table
Made from natural bamboo, this high-quality yet fully affordable multi functional mini table is a great choice if you want a versatile table for many different intents and purposes, like for example for your laptop, breakfast, reading, drawing. The height of the legs is adjustable and it has 5 different view slots from which you can choose from.
Even though its not per say a meditation table per say, it is nonetheless an excellent choice for a floor table. If you’re not really that in to the symbolic engravings found on the other meditation tables listed here, this might be a better choice for you.
Not to mention the “smart” mini drawer it has on its left side.
- Weighs ca 7 pounds
- Measures about 21.6 x 13.8 x 11.4 inches
- Has a bonus drawer for smaller items.
Traditional: Kiri Meditation Table ~ Japanese Style Altar Floor Table
This Kiri meditation table is a great choice when wanting to combine style and meditation.
The table is a solid piece for those wanting a down to earth table that supports lots tea sipping yet still helps deliver what every meditation shrine should deliver.
- Weighs ca 5 pounds
- Measures about 23 x 13.5 x 10 inches
- Made out of paulownia wood.
For Simplicity: EarthBench Pedestal Stand ~ PINE
Made by the same manufacturer, Earthbench, as the meditation shrine above, this one has a more uniform, simple design and natural solid style to it.
This pedestal stand is great for exactly what its name entails, a pedestal stand for displaying different objects, whether it is natural things like plants and flowers or figurines and symbols.
It has a broad design with a rather short height plus its one of the lighter, weighing about 3.5 pounds, shrines/tables on our list.
- Weighs ca 3.48 pounds
- Measures about 19.7 x 11.1 x 1.8 inches
- Coated/finished with beeswax
Eco-Friendly: Reclaimed Wood Meditation Altar
Being the most expensive one on our list, this meditation altar is a match made in heaven for those with a eco-friendly mindset + fans of Japanese culture.
How so?
Each table is handmade while rocking a traditional Japanese look plus is skillfully created from 100% recycled wood from old buildings. If that’s not awesome I don’t know what is.
This meditation table shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to assemble.
- Is great for those wanting a more traditional looking meditation table.
- Measures about 14 x 13.50 x 28 inches
Classical Design: Miniature Table for Buddha Statue Stand Worship Pedestal
If you’re looking for an lightweight, small design and highly affordable alternative to the Reclaimed Wood Meditation Altar mentioned prior, this one could be your go-to table.
This miniature table is one of the cheapest and smallest on our list while still being a nice looking table.
- Weighs 1.4 pounds
- Measures 10″ x 6″ x 4″
- Affordable and portable
Minimalist: Yamako Kishu Cypress Handmade Altar
While we’re on the topic of simplicity in design, I don’t think it gets any more elegant and simpler than this Japanese style altar.
This altar is handmade in Japan plus is the lightest one on our list plus we like the cute little square legs on each side, it gives it a little bit of character don’t you think?
- Weighs ca 1.1 pounds
- Measures about 8.3 W x 2.8 D 2.0 H x inches
Meditation Altar Accessories
If you’ve found a meditation table or stand that you like from the list above, you might also be looking for ways to decorate them with and in doing so turning that place into a full-blown meditation altar or spiritual shrine.
Here are a couple tips on what you might add to your meditative space in which you have your table.
- Offering bowls
- Altar cloths
- Incense bowl
- Meditation journal
- Singing bowl
- Meditation bells, gongs and cymbals
- Meditative candles & candle stands
- Incense or white sage
- Buddhist or other spiritual figurines (Like these cute Yoga ones)
These items aren’t essential but can be a definite deal breaker when creating that spiritual nook in your home. A shrine is a constant physical reminder of that we are more than just matter randomly lumped together in a unintelligent universe. We are first and foremost spirit.
Conclusion
Whether its for holding your tea cup during your meditation or the Dao de Jing by Lao Tzu, a meditation table can be a great addition to your meditation space. If you choose the right one, sprinkled with a couple accessories, you could impart that feeling of having a genuine shrine or altar in your own home.
Hopefully through this overview you’ve received a handful of ideas for tables, shrines and altars from which you can choose and implement into your own meditative space.
Blessings!
Daniel Seeker is a lifelong student of the past, present and future. He realized deep relaxations of the psyche when meditating in his hermit cave on the island of Gotland. His writings are mostly a reflection of that realization. Daniel has meditated & done yogic exercises daily for more than 10 years and is studying history and philosophy at Uppsala Universitet. He is currently finishing writing his B.A. thesis in history which explores how Buddhist, Yogic and Hindu texts were first properly translated and introduced to the western world in the late 18th and 19th century.