walking meditation, eye closed or open?

[Thanisaro85]

Hi meditators,

When you do walking meditation,  during the walking phase, do you close your eye or open them?

I found opening eye quite distracting,  closing my eye i can see the movement of the leg sharply.

But i want to make sure i am using the correct method.

Thanks

[Goofaholix]

I've never tried walking meditation with my eyes close, I expect if I did I would lose my balance at times as this is what happens when doing walking meditation in dimly lit rooms, and I've never heard a teacher recommending it.

In walking meditation it's expected that you'll have a broader awareness, seeing, hearing, reactions to your surroundings etc.  If you prefer a concentration practice and don't stumble though then I don't see a problem with it.

[Thanisaro85]

I


In walking meditation it's expected that you'll have a broader awareness, seeing, hearing, reactions to your surroundings etc.  If you prefer a concentration practice and don't stumble though then I don't see a problem with it.

But with your eye opened, where do you set your conscious on ? Is it at the eye or? Thanks

[stillpointdancer]

I was taught that it was nothing to do with the eyes but the psychomotor experience of walking. What it feels like to move, to touch the ground and so on. The eyes are there to keep you safe from walking into things and people.

[Thanisaro85]

Ok, thank you folks so much for replying....

Guess i might want to try each of them consecutively for certain time frame.

[Goofaholix]

But with your eye opened, where do you set your conscious on ? Is it at the eye or? Thanks

Whatever you happen to be experiencing at the time, the movement of the muscles, the touch of the feet, shifting balance, intention to make a movement, seeing, hearing, smelling, thinking ...

[Thanisaro85]

But with your eye opened, where do you set your conscious on ? Is it at the eye or? Thanks

Whatever you happen to be experiencing at the time, the movement of the muscles, the touch of the feet, shifting balance, intention to make a movement, seeing, hearing, smelling, thinking ...

Got it...thanks for the responses, appreciated!