In the first couple of lines of the introductory book to the Serene Reflection tradition, Jiyu Kennet states that if you close your eyes during meditation you can go into a trance and die. I know many people who meditate with their eyes closed and none of them have died. In fact, I have never heard of this causing death to anyone....ever.
Most Buddhist traditions meditate with eyes closed.
On a kagyu retreat I attended, the Lama suggested letting your eyes do what they want; open sometimes, closed sometimes. "It doesn't matter," he seemed to imply.
It is my belief that meditating with eyes open can cause eyesight problems. Alot of people involved in the OBC seem to require glasses (just a personal observation).
Why did Kennet say that? Was there some truth in it, was she being symbolic (not wise in an introductory book) or was she just plain stupid?