The interests and talents among the people are what can produce income. Our first collaboration, the Sangha Peace Cushion was inspired by the “zafu”, a round meditation pillow which has been used in India for many years. The form was strengthened and a handle was added for easy transport. Peace Cushions are made from traditional textiles as a tribute to the artisans’ cultural heritage. In Tibet, brocade fabric, normally used to decorate Buddhist altars in homes and temples, is a durable cloth perfect for this project. Artisans travel to the Silk Road (!) to find this special cloth.  Sangha Peace Cushions are stuffed with organic buckwheat hulls from Upstate New York and distributed to venues throughout the U.S. and Europe.