Merle,
Your teacher may tell you differently.
I learned to place the RIGHT hand in a loose "fist", and hold it at about the
navel. Then to cover the right fist with the LEFT hand. With the left thumb
on top of the right fist. And just keep the shoulders and arms relaxed while
standing or walking this way.
It's a natural and relaxed "closed" position, rather than letting the arms
dangle openly at the sides.
This is also called "kinhin mudra", or Shashu. It's used when doing walking
meditation, "kinhin". It's also used when standing; and, when standing and
listening to the Dharma, as when the teacher is speaking and we are on our feet.
When walking about the zendo, or outside it, people often walk using Shashu
hand position, too, and never swing the arms at the sides. This is not a rule,
it's a Practice. It helps us to keep in mind that we are there to PRACTICE,
...not to walk around.
We have a lot of practical reminders of what we're doing there, what we're
there for. This is one of them. It sets an "atmosphere", too, about the
place, an attitude of protecting our place of practice, so we can all practice
without disruption, and come to awakening.
It's a small thing, but small things are big when things quiet down, and we
become more sensitive. So, we do this. For ourselves and for each other.
It's also a way of quieting things down.
The Zen tradition has always emphasized practicing together. And it has such
ways of helping this work really well.
Eyes are usually open in everything, except when sleeping. They "see", but are
not looking in focused fashion at anything in particular. Sight is passive,
and we do not "stare" at anything, nor look around. When we sit or stand to
meditate, we do not move any part of the body, not even the eyes. Of course,
the breath comes and goes naturally by itself without controlling.
Well, again, this is as I learned it and as many of us do it.
My teacher used to tell us, though, that, "Wherever you go, just fall right in
with how they practice, there." As a guest, do as the host does.
Harmonizing is probably key to the whole business. Water flows easily, but a
brittle stick is stubborn, and makes a loud noise when it snaps (then,
opportunity is lost).
Good practice!
The Zen in a Chair teacher may give some good example and model these things.
I hope it goes well!
--Joe
> Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote:
>
> joe..thank you..can you describe how the hands are held in standing
> meditation.?... i had the feeling i needed to open my eyes however in the
> past types of meditations there is the instruction to close the eyes...merle
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