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Open or closed

jupitermadcatjupitermadcat
edited September 2011 in General Banter
Is there a best way to meditate as far as keeping eyes open or closed or is it just preference.

Comments

  • vixthenomadvixthenomad
    I tend to start out with eyes closed, and then they sort of half-open themselves part-way through.
  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    Eyes-open helps to keep laziness at bay. It also builds strength.
  • jupitermadcatjupitermadcat
    Builds strength? I have noticed in Tibetan meditation the eyes are closed unless I'm wrong and in Zen they are slightly open.
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    Eyes closed invites sleepiness and clouds concentration.
  • jupitermadcatjupitermadcat
    So Tibetan Meditation would not be as effective?
  • vixthenomadvixthenomad
    Eyes closed invites sleepiness and clouds concentration.
    I find the opposite. I have to close my eyes initially otherwise I get distracted by external visual stimuli. The only time closed eyes induce sleep for me is when I'm lying down (or sitting but over-comfy).

    As long as the mind's where it should be, does it really matter what your eyes are doing?
  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    vixthenomad wrote: As long as the mind's where it should be, does it really matter what your eyes are doing?
    _______________

    No, but for start-up purposes, the mind is seldom where it "should be."
  • personperson Don't believe everything you think The liminal space Veteran
    Builds strength? I have noticed in Tibetan meditation the eyes are closed unless I'm wrong and in Zen they are slightly open.
    Whenever I've been taught or read about meditation in the Tibetan tradition they say to keep the eyes open. Otherwise what the others have said about warding off sleepiness.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    Trungpa Rinpoche, Pema Chodron, and Shenpen Hookham recommend eyes open as a gesture that you are open to whatever comes up rather than seeking an experience of peace which any craving is ultimately frustrating.

    But my advice is to do closed to stabilize your calm and then once calm open outward to everything. Or if not calm might as well open to it and be spacious.
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    I think beginning students have more luck with closed eyes. Before you're able to accept whatever distractions come, it's useful to limit those distractions as much as possible. As we grow in our practice, opening our eyes can give us another venue to tackle, another sense-door to put in its proper perspective.
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