The exaxt amount of days Buddha meditated under the fig tree for is unknown, as various Buddhist texts have conflicting opinions. However, the most widely accepted amount of days is 49 days - or 7 weeks. Then again, some texts say 6 days, and others say 6 years. An descendant of the tree remains today known as the Bodhi Tree.
Buddha left the palace at 29, soon after he seeks apprenticeship from two masters. Before he was declared 'the enlightened one', at the age of 36, Buddha actually meditated 49 days. It is the final step which would led to 'the enlightened one'. However it is not yet known whether did any of those time outside 49 days he actually contribute to the journey to being enlightened. you know what i mean, he learned from those masters the way to meditate, maybe from those learning did he already started the journey. Or thus maybe the real meditating began in the last 49 days you know. Do you see??
It depends on the garden. Often, you will find lush vegetation, statues of the Buddha (or others), marble walk ways, fountains, benches or chairs to sit on, etc.
There is no need for initiation when one meditates. Meditation is simply relaxing into Self. Relaxing into the purest part of you.
Meditation Sit with your spine straight, with a gentle smile on your face like a Buddha statue and try to stop your mind from thinking about anything at all. Focus on your breath and enjoy the silence. This is difficult at first, but still relaxing, and once you get the hang of it you will not think the thoughts that are causing you to be anxious
Buddha statues most typically sit on what is called a "lotus throne". And he sits in the "half lotus form". The "lotus form" is when the right leg is over the left leg, and the soles of the feet are pointed upward. The "lotus form" is also commonly called the "hero form".
Since meditation is an inward journey the answer is simply to sit comfortably in a place where your attention is not demanded to be outward. Sitting is better than lying down, since meditation has an aim of inner wakefulness. You may wish not to be disturbed and so sitting is a quiet place and turning off the telephone can be preferable, but there is no place without sound. Even quite noisy places can be just fine for meditation but since it is about feeling comfortable there is an element of subjectivity about it.
While it's true that some people do "worship" the Buddha, fundamentally Buddhism is not religious in nature. The Buddha (Awakened One) himself asked not to be worshiped. He also did not argue or try to persuade others to follow him. He simply presented his philosophies and invited others to test it for themselves. In this way alone, the Buddha differs from most all other "religious" figures, in that he did not claim to have "the only truth". In it's simplest form, the teachings are this: Sit and notice the breath. Do not accept or reject anything that happens, just be. Liberation follows. Of course, this is an oversimplification; the Buddha taught for many years, and has many more teachings than most of his "peers".
2 years
49 days until compassion lead him back to spread dharma
Kneeling-meditation. Sit with your feet under your buttocks, with back straight. This is called kneeling-meditation or Zazen pose. Much discipline is needed to maintain this pose. The resulting pins and needles causes the mind to concentrate on the meditation, not the pain...
what he did was that he left to the forest and changed all of his clothes for a old orange rag and sit under a tree! then he had went to the village of all the other ascetics! he had also changed his name to buddha gautama!
Buddhists do not worship any person or deity, including The Buddha. They show him reverence by bowing to his image but we do not say prayers to him. Buddhist prayers are more like a mantra in which the person praying is reciting a lesson (sutra) or guideline which tells them how to behave and act. For example, a prayer for compassion is "may all beings be well, happy and peaceful". The idea behind this prayer is for the person praying to develop compassion and loving kindness to all. Therefore prayer in Buddhism is self-directed. With all that said when we practice meditation we usually sit in front of a statute of The Buddha or some other holy person, again not to worship, but to remind us of the ideal we strive for. We meditate at whatever time we can or when we feel it is needed.
I am not a buddhist, but I would guess that unless there's a rule that says you specifically can't, then I would say you can.