Frequently asked questions

What are the key features of the app?

Eyes-Open Meditation: The app guides users through a distinctive form of powerful meditation with their eyes open allowing for engagement with the world around them while retaining a deep personal connection.

Any time, Any place: Moments of Space ensures users can find a moment of space at any time and in any place with eyes-open meditations and walking practices, negating the need to find time in the day to be still and in complete silence. The app promotes an achievable and provenly beneficial ‘little and often’ approach.

AI-powered Personalization: The app delivers personalised content intelligently and according to the user’s personality traits and present emotional states.

Context Detection: Moments of Space uses context detection to determine whether the user is walking or commuting or stationary - and offers eyes-open formats to match.

What is the meditation background?

Our meditation content is primarily based on and influenced by the ancient meditation traditions of Dzogchen and Mahamudra from the Tibetan Buddhist schools of Nyingma and Kagyu, respectively. We study these meditation traditions primarily through the lens of two Tibetan masters and lineage holders, Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche. While our content is heavily inspired by their approach and meditation methods, it aims to remain accessible. However, it's important to note that the content in Moments of Space is not endorsed by these teachers, and no formal relationship or partnership exists. Additionally, we draw inspiration from the modern perspective of Eckhart Tolle.

Why should I try eyes-opening meditation?

Eyes-open meditation stands out for its unique approach to mindfulness, directly integrating it into the fabric of daily life. This practice diverges from traditional eyes-closed techniques by actively engaging with the external environment through a soft, unfocused gaze. This engagement ensures a heightened state of alertness and awareness, making it especially beneficial for those prone to drowsiness in closed-eye sessions.

The practice’s adaptability to various settings enhances its practicality, allowing meditation in situations where closing the eyes might not be feasible. By dissolving the division between meditation and daily activities, eyes-open meditation fosters a seamless transition and continuous application of mindfulness, irrespective of one’s surroundings. This integration proves particularly effective in our modern, distraction-filled lives, offering a direct method to cultivate presence amid the chaos.

Furthermore, the practice deepens the connection with the present moment and the external world, enriching life's experiences and promoting a sense of oneness and empathy. It addresses the challenge of maintaining mindfulness in the face of constant stimuli by working with, rather than against, distractions, especially the visual ones that dominate contemporary society.

Eyes-open meditation’s flexibility, direct applicability, and emphasis on engagement with the world provide a robust framework for cultivating mindfulness, potentially making it a more powerful practice for those looking to seamlessly integrate mindfulness into every aspect of their lives.

What are the main benefits of eyes-open meditation?

Enhanced Presence and Awareness: Practising with open eyes helps cultivate a deep sense of presence and awareness, enabling you to be more attuned to the present moment and your surroundings.
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Seamless Integration into Daily Life: This method allows for the practice of mindfulness in everyday activities, making it easier to maintain a meditative state whether you're working, walking, or engaging in other tasks.
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Improved Focus and Concentration: By learning to keep your gaze soft and unfocused, you train your mind to stay centred amidst distractions, enhancing your ability to focus and concentrate in various situations.
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Greater Accessibility: Eyes open meditation can be practised in environments where closing your eyes might not be feasible or safe, such as in public spaces or while commuting, making meditation more accessible throughout your day.
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Reduction of Drowsiness: Keeping your eyes open during meditation can help prevent the drowsiness that sometimes accompanies closed-eye practices, keeping you alert and engaged.
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Direct Engagement with Reality: This approach encourages a direct engagement with life as it happens, fostering a non-dualistic understanding that meditation and daily life are not separate but interconnected.

Adaptability to External Distractions: It offers a practical way to work with external visual and auditory distractions, rather than trying to avoid them, which can enhance resilience and adaptability.

Are there any studies backing up the effectiveness of eyes-open meditation?

There isn't a definitive body of research conclusively favouring eyes-open over eyes closed meditation, or vice versa. Meditation studies often explore various aspects like stress reduction, attention, mindfulness, and brain changes, but comparisons between eyes closed and eyes open practices specifically are less common.

However, both approaches have demonstrated benefits in improving mindfulness, reducing stress, and enhancing overall well-being in separate studies. The effectiveness of one method over the other can depend on personal preference, the goals of the meditation practice, and the individual's response to the practice.

Some practitioners find eyes-closed meditation helps minimise distractions and facilitates inward focus, which can be beneficial for deep relaxation or concentration practices. Conversely, eyes open meditation, especially within traditions like Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, can help integrate mindfulness into everyday activities and maintain a connection with the external environment, which might be preferable for those seeking to enhance presence and awareness in daily life. Ultimately, more research is needed to compare the two practices directly.

However, the effectiveness of eyes open meditation is underscored by its ancient origins and long-standing presence within practices such as Dzogchen and Mahamudra in Tibetan Buddhism, as well as Zen Buddhism. The fact that these meditation techniques have been preserved and continuously practised for thousands of years across different cultures and spiritual traditions speaks volumes about their value and effectiveness. This historical endurance and cultural validation indicate that eyes open meditation offers significant benefits that have been acknowledged and appreciated through the ages.

Who is the Founder?

Kim Little, the founder of Moments of Space, has a unique backstory that combines his professional experience in technology with his personal spiritual journey.

Kim started his career as a software developer after earning a Master's degree in Information Systems Design. One of his major accomplishments during this time was leading the development of a bespoke Royalties Management System for the global publishers of the Harry Potter book series.

In 2010, Kim co-founded a tech startup specialising in semantic technology and artificial intelligence. This venture allowed him to delve deeper into the world of technology, further honing his skills in this field.

Parallel to his technological pursuits, Kim has been a lifelong meditator and a practising Buddhist, who also holds a degree in Theology. His early exposure to Buddhism and subsequent experience with Tibetan Buddhist meditation practices profoundly shaped his worldview.

He started out in early life as a student of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism under teachers such as Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, primarily through the vehicle of the FPMT. He attended his first monthly retreat at Kopan Monastery at the age of 18. He later explored the Vipassana tradition as expounded by Satya Narayana Goenka and the Burmese tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw, a Theravada monk.

In 2018, Kim encountered the ancient meditation traditions of Dzogchen and Mahamudra from the Tibetan Buddhist schools of Nyingma and Kagyu, respectively. These traditions were expounded by two Tibetan lineage holders, Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche, whom Kim now considers to be his primary teachers. Kim also enjoys the teachings of Eckhart Tolle and has attended a number of his in person retreats.

Identifying several shortcomings in existing meditation apps, Kim decided to develop an app that would integrate authentic Buddhist teachings and practices.