The question came up as to why we keep our eyes a bit open in Shikantaza Zazen.
Master Dogen instructed in Fukanzazengi, "The eyes should always remain open."
This is the proper attitude of neither running toward the world, nor running away. Seeing, yet not being disturbed by nor tangled in what is seen, no need to push away the world, yet the mind not grabbing on or caught.
As the hard borders soften or sometimes fully drop away, what is "inside" or "outside" truly?
Yes, there are functional reasons too, for it does make it less likely that one will doze or start to "trip" in inner states. In fact, most teachers say that one should sit with eyes perhaps 1/2 or 1/3 open, rather than fully open, facing a wall or facing the room, with lights softened but not in the dark. This reduces stimulation, but never ever shuts it off!
As well, this instruction from Dogen to keep the eyes open is one of the strongest bits of evidence we have that Master Dogen did not mean for Shikantaza to be a practice centered on attaining unusually deep states of Samadhi concentration, for he rejected closing the eyes and never mentions in his instructions focus on a mantra, a koan phrase, the breath or visual mind object as usually accompanies such kinds of practices. Instead, Shikantaza is sitting in profound equanimity and deep presence with the world, inside and out.
But if the eyes are the Gateless Gate, what is "inside" vs. "outside" truly? Light is seen, and all is radiant. It jumps through bright or dark. The eye which sees itself, sitting within a Buddha Eye, the True Dharma Eye, can neither be entered or exited, leaping through "inside and out" even as the world which we spy keeps coming and going.
Gassho, J
SatTodayLAH
Sorry to run long
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