Begins.
Hello,
And welcome to Methods.
This is the second episode of our third season,
Vision.
In our last season,
We explored the concept of a meditation anchor,
And the simplest of these,
The breath.
An anchor is something,
Anything really,
That we set as a primary focal point for our rational mind.
Doing this helps us to build concentration and gives us a bridge,
Or a stable place upon which to stand,
Above the shifting state of our thoughts.
This time,
We'll explore a visual or conceptual anchor to place our focused attention on,
Allowing our monkey mind to entertain itself,
While our deeper and truer self rests simply in presence.
There's something uniquely powerful about finding a slowly changing scene to behold.
It gives us an access point to the present moment,
While also recognizing its transience,
Its continuous state of change,
Allowing us to let go again and again,
To be present with what is.
This week,
We'll focus on a candle flame,
Which has been a common method of contemplative prayer for many throughout history,
Including recently Father Richard Rohr.
The method goes like this.
Go to the place where you feel most comfortable and undisturbed,
A place where the time dedicated to yourself and to God may not be interrupted.
Take a candle of any kind and place it directly in front of you on a table or on the floor,
A foot or so away.
It can be a scent you find calming or unscented,
Large or small,
Doesn't matter.
As you light the candle,
Observe the flame overtaking the wick and beginning to dance.
Sit and settle comfortably on your cushion or chair and begin to take a few deep breaths.
Gently close your eyes and rest your hands lightly on your lap.
Take all the stress you're holding within your body and breathe it out,
Relaxing your shoulders,
Your forehead,
Your jaw,
Your lower back,
Your belly,
Your feet.
Allow your breath to simply come and go in through your nose or mouth and out through your nose or mouth.
Now slowly open your eyes and rest your gaze on the candle flame.
Allow the glow to take precedence over any other light source,
Placing your full attention on it.
See if you can feel the warmth of the flame,
Even if it's barely perceivable.
Observe the flame as it floats to the left and to the right,
Back away from you and in towards you,
Not judging,
Just allowing the flame to be what it is and do what it does.
You might begin to notice thoughts or feelings coming to draw your attention away.
This is okay.
It's normal.
Don't push them away because pushing them away is its own form of clinging to them.
Just notice them as thoughts or feelings and then gently bring your attention back to the flame.
After a while,
You might find it necessary to soften your focus on the flame,
Still keeping your eyes open but allowing the edges of the flame to be fuzzy.
If this causes you to become more entrained in your thoughts or feelings,
Just return your full focus to the flame of the candle.
Continue like this for a while.
You will now begin to feel the reverence of all that comes and turns.
You improve your Nonetheless,
There is a way to improve your self- SelconedACH as your terror Champions Slowly bring your awareness back into the room.
Feel the pressure of your body against the seat,
And the gentle rise and fall of your breath.
Thank you for participating in this episode of Methods.
For more information,
Visit us at MethodsPodcast.
Com or on social media at Methods Podcast.
If you'd like to support what we're doing,
You can donate to us on Patreon.
Com slash methods.
Until next time.
Thank you for participating in this episode of Methods.
For more information,
Please visit us at MethodsPodcast.
Com or on social media at Methods Podcast.
If you'd like to support what we're doing,
You can donate to us on Patreon.
Com slash methods.
Until next time.
