Candlelight practice

I have been practicing the candlelight practice for Śamatha of Mahamudra as well as in the Patanjali mind-training sequence. It has been helpful, yet I have noticed more thoughts arise with this practice than other practices without it. It could be that the lack of continuity is more obvious. It seems like getting into a trance with the candle is missing the point, yet using it to reach a state of pure concentration seems difficult using this object of meditation.

It is not like I am over-exerting necessarily but just noticed how my mind was able to work with this practice. This could be a representation of relaxation in exertion - my goal.


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