You Don’t Need to Close Your Eyes to Meditate
Many meditation beginners (myself included) believe that the most productive (and only) way to meditate is with your eyes closed. The choice is yours: keep your eyes closed or open. Each has its own pros and cons, and none of the methods will be better for you if you don’t try it beforehand!
The video above explains how you can meditate with your eyes open if that’s what you want to do, and also gives a short explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of meditating with your eyes open or closed.
Basically, with open eyes versus closed eyes:
- By closing your eyes, you eliminate all irritants from the environment and, perhaps, you can better focus on your thoughts. However, if your mind is not yet “disciplined” enough, you can allow thoughts and minor distractions (such as sounds) to prevent you from entering a productive meditative state.
- With your eyes closed, you may feel sleepy and instead just fall asleep.
- With your eyes open, you can avoid daydreaming and other distracting thoughts because you are simply staring blankly in front of you. Some people think this is a simpler introduction to meditation.
- Obviously, with your eyes open, you won’t fall asleep as easily (although, if you do, it’s … quite impressive). Some argue, however, that their meditation is not that deep.
Ultimately, how you meditate and even how long you do it depends on your preference. Try both options and see which one works best for you! (Note that the link below includes a mention of a course we do not support.)
How to Meditate: Eyes Open or Closed | Christopher Lee May