Eyes Open/Closed during Movements

[Anonymous]

Greetings,

A friend of mine has recently become interested in Qigong and asked me whether its ok to do the movements with eyes closed as it makes her better able to feel whats going on and as a result believes that it is easier for her to learn the movement.

Ive heard Bruce say with the neutral standing posture to close your eyes only if you are not able to put your mind inside your body without getting distracted by your surroundings. However, Ive never heard him or anyone else say that with movements (Circling hands for example) its a good idea or ok to close your eyes. Some people seem to do this naturally but for me my eyes are always open except during dissolving and meditation.

Any thoughts?

thanks,

kev

[Anonymous]

Like most things in tai chi, there is no correct or perfect way, no right or wrong way.
Play with both ways and note the differences in feeling and awareness.
If you become drowsy or sleepy, open your eyes.
If you feel hyper or nervous, close your eyes.

If you keep your eyes closed, there may be a tendency to visualize too much–which may be good if you need extra guidance–or distracting if you let your imagination run away from internal awareness.
Ultimately you want to connect with your internal feelings.

Having said this, I do everything with my eyes open–
I gaze forward and a bit down from a point behind the eyeball. I avoid focusing specifically on external objects from the front of the eyeballs. There is a tendency to mentally grasp for an object that is in fine focus, which can throw you off balance or reduce your awareness of the whole field of vision, things in your peripheral vision. Don’t focus on either hand, gaze beyond the hands. Situational awareness is useful for being aware of everything around you–when engaged with multiple opponents or just walking down the street.

So I also keep my eyes open during meditation (20, 40, 60 minutes), while doing standing meditation, while walking the circle in bagua–
and while driving my car.

The eyes are connected to the brain/mind.
The classics say that the mind leads the Qi, the Qi leads the blood, the blood leads the body.
Well, the eyes can lead the mind.

I won’t even pretend to understand the tai chi classics when they talk about “looking” and “gazing.”
(gaze right, look left, looking with the kwa, etc.)

It sounds like your friend is doing OK by exploring the subject and that your attitude is very helpful by not being dogmatic.

Take care,

Bob

[Anonymous]

Just to throw in what seems to be a different viewpt.. “What you practice you become.” -as Bruce has said that the Taoist tradition is based-on, and the practice of tuning-on/spacing-out/ignoring what the eyes see (~looking and yet not seeing, which is actually having the eye input and subconscious connecting “unconsciously”)..

— so again the “how can I start” – “what can I do, if I can’t do else” … is different than, “what are the downside affects of? -what is the goal of how to practice?”
– the first, “is ok? ie referee make a call on the rules.., “it is easier to learn”.. getting going, First Separate, then Combine

(its easy to do what you “can do” what you haven’t learned the skill of, it difficult’.. and I find the majority of practice is finding the weak-links in my “chain”… to focus on the parts I don’t know, to refine the foundation, back to the drawing-board.. can be frustrating, but vs gliding/laurel-seat and such..

But I find the practicing (intentionally) of looking straight-ahead and “not seeing” .. is practicing ‘gapping’/fog.. vs practicing being present and aware… -also the way to not “grab with the eyes”, a shortcut (false-structure) is tensing the eyeball (and optic nerve)… I don’t believe one wants to do that.. (but that’s my exper)

so short-term the eye may want to grab, but relax, and yet stay alive and aware, and seeing.. (but need not “react” to that stimulus.. but not numb either.. how? that’s the trick, thus the int’l system).. but little steps..
===========
just to perspective: “without getting distracted” if actually meant (not just sort-of).. means quite a bit.. ‘no’ distraction? – and able to feel ‘inside’ is a step beyond feel ‘internally’ (ie inside the body… -which involves feeling fluid-vessels, and movement of liver- as Bruce stories… so how aware—- but just where are you at, in the developmental process: ie what are you focusing-on in a particular practice/learning session.. (such that if you focus on a new, or less grasped skill/component, you may be letting else slide- temporarily- and then once you get it.. ___ etc.)

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