The irony is that when you impose conditions on yourself, which are uncomfortable, you inevitably quit. But when you let yourself be comfortable as you are, then often the ideal posture just happens. With no effort. I hear the line about what I want vs don't want and its a bit controlling, and dogmatic. The Rolling Stones made a tune out of it but for the rest of us I think it can be counterproductive sometimes.
I have my eyes open and looking down to keep from falling asleep. Susan Murphy the author of "Upside-Down Zen" tells us "the eyes should be hooded. I think that hooded eyes naturally happen when looking down at a 45 degree angle.
Sometimes I close them. Sometimes I keep them open, looking slightly down. But for me it is really keeping a very relax way of seeing. Not focusing on anything. Not looking. Yet the eyes are still open. When I keep my eyes close, the "looking" way is the same. Even vaster as they are close.
Yes, I don't think about the eyes and don't find them a distraction. Abbot Meido Moore suggests using peripheral vision when sitting. I've tried it and it does work well!
Thank you!! ☀☀
I read that more alpha waves are generated with the eyes closed than open. So I am experimenting with have my eyes closed.
I'd be interested to hear your experiences
The irony is that when you impose conditions on yourself, which are uncomfortable, you inevitably quit. But when you let yourself be comfortable as you are, then often the ideal posture just happens. With no effort. I hear the line about what I want vs don't want and its a bit controlling, and dogmatic. The Rolling Stones made a tune out of it but for the rest of us I think it can be counterproductive sometimes.
I have my eyes open and looking down to keep from falling asleep.
Susan Murphy the author of "Upside-Down Zen" tells us "the eyes should be hooded. I think that hooded eyes naturally happen when looking down at a 45 degree angle.
Sometimes I close them.
Sometimes I keep them open, looking slightly down.
But for me it is really keeping a very relax way of seeing.
Not focusing on anything.
Not looking. Yet the eyes are still open.
When I keep my eyes close, the "looking" way is the same. Even vaster as they are close.
Yes, I don't think about the eyes and don't find them a distraction. Abbot Meido Moore suggests using peripheral vision when sitting. I've tried it and it does work well!