A beginner’s taste of fire kasina, a concentration practice from the Buddhist tradition that uses a candle flame as its single object.
When
When you want one steady point to hold your attention, and nowhere else to be.
How
Light a candle at eye level, a safe distance away, and rest your gaze softly on the flame — not staring, not straining. When your attention wanders, bring it back to the flame. After a minute or two, close your eyes; if an afterimage appears, let your attention rest there instead, until it fades.
Try it
Nothing you type is kept. It floats off the page.
Keep it safe
Never leave a flame unattended, keep a safe distance from it, and don’t strain your eyes trying to hold the stare. If your eyes ache, close them and rest.
Longer practice
This is a brief taste. Intensive fire kasina retreats, working toward deeper concentration, are done under the guidance of a teacher, not attempted alone from a page.
Even the afterimage is only light, passing.
The flame doesn’t need to hold still. Only your attention does, for a little while.