How is dhyana practised - with eyes open or closed?
How is dhyana practised - with eyes open or closed?
Ramana Maharshi.: It may be done either way. The point is that the mind must be introverted and kept active in its pursuit. Sometimes it happens that when the eyes are closed the latent thoughts rush forth with great vigour. It may also be difficult to introvert the mind with the eyes open. It requires strength of mind to do so. The mind is contaminated when it takes in objects. Otherwise, it is pure. The main factor in dhyana is to keep the mind active in its own pursuit without taking in external impressions or thinking of other matters.
Ramana Maharshi.: It may be done either way. The point is that the mind must be introverted and kept active in its pursuit. Sometimes it happens that when the eyes are closed the latent thoughts rush forth with great vigour. It may also be difficult to introvert the mind with the eyes open. It requires strength of mind to do so. The mind is contaminated when it takes in objects. Otherwise, it is pure. The main factor in dhyana is to keep the mind active in its own pursuit without taking in external impressions or thinking of other matters.
hari om. At initial stages dhyana is to be practiced by closing eyes only. One has to concentrate on 'one' object and start thinking on the same as long as one can.Once one achieves the control on mind then ,can be shifted to open eye dhyana.
ReplyDeleteBhagavan also says in his 'Upadesha Saara' that "kaaya vaang manah kaaryam uttamam poojanam japah chintanam kramaat" - initial stages it may be necessary to pick up an activity (for spiritual maturity) which involves Kaaya (body) like pooja where body, speech (vaang /Vaak) and mind (manah) are involved - as the person matures he can proceed to Tapah (here only speech and mind are involved) and later to chintanam (this is a synonym for dhyana) and proceed to dhyana - the literal meaning of dhyana is broodover - constant focused thinking only on a particular object (object of bhakti) - Eg:. a person who is fallen in love with another person constantly thinking only about that person - like that - this is a mental activity - this to start with 'eyes closed" as one matures with "eyes open or closed" all the same.
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