So we'll begin our meditation with you seated in a proper posture.
Either your legs are folded on the floor with the soles of your feet touching each other,
Knees pointing outward,
Or you're sitting on a chair with your ankles underneath your knees and your knees parallel to your hip sockets and your shoulders over your sit bones.
Either way,
Have your shoulders over your sit bones no matter what position you're in so that your spine is nice and straight.
You can get into any position you'd like,
Just don't cross at the ankles,
Don't cross your arms.
Now close your eyes and focus on the breath.
Just notice how you're breathing.
Don't try to change it,
Just allow it to change automatically just by putting your attention on it.
Now begin to look at the candle flame.
Let's start by looking at the brightest point of the candle flame,
The top of the flame.
Notice the shape,
How it's almost a perfect triangle.
Notice if it's moving around in the breeze in the room or from your own breath.
Notice the colors of the flame where it is white and moves to a yellow and an orange,
A red.
Then close your eyes and see the image in your mind.
Hold that image in your mind.
If any thoughts interfere,
See the thought as a cloud,
As if it were passing by a window and you were staring at the sun.
It will pass.
Bring the image back into your mind.
If you should lose the image in any way,
Just open your eyes again and focus on the top of the flame,
The brightest part of the flame,
Whatever feels easiest for you.
Notice all the things about the flame.
Is there a rays generating from the edges of the flame?
Are they long star-like filaments coming towards you?
Are they round vibrations?
Does it look like a net around vibrations?
Heat wavering?
Just notice it and then close your eyes again.
Let all thoughts pass just like they were clouds going past a window and you were focused on the bright sun.
Keep the image of the flame in your mind,
No matter how faint or ghostly.
If you can still see part of it,
Remember part of it.
Hold that as the prime focus of your thought without actually thinking,
Just visualizing it,
Noticing your breath,
Letting all thoughts just pass by without creating any agitation or emotion,
Without affecting your concentration.
Anytime you concentrate on that flame,
No matter how pale or ghostly it is in your mind,
Open your eyes again and focus on the flame,
The brightest spot of the flame,
The edges of the flame.
When you feel convicted that you'll remember it,
Close your eyes and hold that image in your mind.
Remind yourself,
This flame resides inside of me.
The light of this flame resides inside of me.
Open your eyes anytime you feel the need to connect to the image again and then close your eyes,
Holding that image in your mind,
No matter how faint or ghostly,
Focusing on your breath,
Allowing thoughts to just pass by like clouds going past a window while you're focusing on the sun.
Hold the image of the flame in mind,
Whatever you can remember about it.
Let all other thoughts pass by.
Now look at the flame again,
This time focusing on the area right above the wick,
How it may be the most translucent or dark,
However it appears to you.
See where the flame begins to take a color,
Where it changes in brightness from translucity to opaque.
Then close your eyes again and ask this question inwardly,
Help me to see with clarity today,
Help me to see with clarity today.
And focus on your breath,
The image of the flame,
Let all thoughts pass by asking inwardly.
We recognize there is a higher self,
My authentic self,
Which I'm trying to reclaim,
The part who can live to what I was meant to be without any mistakes put upon me,
Where I can live for my own self rather than the dreams of others.
Open your eyes one last time,
Focus on any part of the flame that seems the most attractive to you.
And then close your eyes once again,
Holding that flame in mind,
Letting all thoughts pass.
Then when you're ready,
Open your eyes,
Look at the flame one last time,
Concluding our eight minute meditation and as gently and softly as possible extinguish the candle flame.
