The Steady Gaze

Sit in a darkened room, a small clay diya placed at eye level about an arm's length away. Light it. Sit upright and gaze softly at the flame, blinking only when needed. After some minutes the eyes water naturally. When they do, close them, and hold the after-image of the flame inside the closed eyelids until it fades. This is trāṭaka, an old practice of devotional steadiness. The flame outside is teaching the gaze inside how to settle. Even after the flame is gone, something steady remains. Sit with that.