An interesting feature of this style of mindfulness meditation is that we practice with our eyes slightly open, taking a soft, downward gaze from wherever we are. So, why do we do this? Isn’t meditation supposed to be about shutting out the external world and focusing only on the internal or the transcendent?
Sure, some forms of meditation do emphasize those things. But one of the fruits of the practice of mindfulness meditation is the ability to carry the practice off of the cushion and apply it i daily life, during which, most of the time, we will have our eyes open. Learning to sit with the eyes open, yet not engaging actively with the world around you, allows you to start to bridge that gap between meditation practice and the rest of your life.
For some folks, practicing with the eyes slightly open also offers an additional sense of safety and security. There are no surprises if you can still observe changes in your environment while sitting. For some people, practicing with the eyes open also helps reduce the sense of hypervigilance that may arise when their eyes are fully closed.
A soft, downward gaze helps place the mind into a relaxed yet alert state. For people who are fantastic or hyper-fantastic (meaning they see pictures in their minds), this one simple act can help bypass the tendency of the mind to show us movies, memories, or enter the fantasy or dream-like states that can arise when our eyes are fully closed.
Meditating with your eyes slightly open may feel a little odd at first if it’s not something you’ve done in the past. However, the proof of its efficacy quickly reveals itself as you do it regularly. Don’t worry! We also often practice lovingkindness meditation with our eyes fully closed and engaging our imaginations, including our visual imaginations. There is space for both eyes open and eyes shut in our daily meditation practices.
