When and where did praying with eyes closed originate?
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Accepted answer
The headline question probably cannot be answered definitively because spiritual contemplation with closed eyes may very well predate written records.
Answering this question for Christianity specifically may also be a challenge, but it goes back pretty early. Aphrahat apparently wrote in the early 4th century:
As I urged you above, the moment you start praying, raise your heart upwards and turn your eyes downward. Enter inside your inner self and pray in secret to your heavenly Father.
You can see this article for a bit more discussion and analysis including a footnote on the source of that quote.
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Source: stackoverflow.com
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