Question
Doing zazen is easy for me, but I feel more within myself when I close my eyes. That way I can go to the source. Let us say I find myself in deep meditation.
If I keep my eyes half-open, I see everything around me and therefore lack concentration.
Thank you, Master, for your answer. I am truly delighted to be joining you at the September 28 sesshin.
Light and serenity.
J.Bertholle.
Answer from Master Kosen
I have already taught a great deal about the eyes and the gaze during zazen, because, as you can imagine, this is a very important point.
I allow practitioners to close their eyes if they wish at the beginning of zazen, to calm their minds more quickly and enter an alpha state. But this posture is allowed only to calm an overly agitated mind; it is not the posture recommended by the patriarchs.
I have often explained why.
Kosen