Meditation and Candles: Can staring at the flame damage vision?

[Mattimo]

The title says it all.  I was just simply wondering if anyone knows whether staring at a candle flame can damage vision.  I tried googling it but I came up with hardly any results.  Any and all comments appreciated.

Thanks.

[Sunn]

sitting in the dark? i don't think it would.

[Stookie]

I've always wondered the same thing myself. Direct bright lights can damage vision, especially in the dark (Don't sit too close to the TV in the dark). I had a ceiling light in my old apartment that was above and to the left of me that I used for a couple of years and my left eye started getting a little blurry. My doctor told me it was probably because of the light, and sure enough, after a couple months not using it, it went away.

If it's for a short period of time it's probably not a problem, but I wouldn't do it everyday or for long periods.

[Principle]

The Flame of a Candle does not have any artifical properties such as the appliances that were mentioned perviously.
Then again looking directly into the Sun for a extended period of time, without proper protection does damage your vision. However, The potency of the Sun and a Candle are two totally different things.

Therefore, I have come to the conclusion, and I personally believe...
It will not harm your vision.

By the way: I do practice the same technique requiring candle-lit flame,
My vision has yet to be affected by doing this.

[CFTraveler]

The Flame of a Candle does not have any artifical properties such as the appliances that were mentioned perviously.

What artificial properties?

[Principle]

New filiments... Allow bulbs to burn longer, and give more Light.
Which can damage your vision if directly looked into.

[DH]

I can't offer any medical proof about damage or no, but I've been staring into candles for more than 30 years and have never any trouble with my vision.  Yet.      DH   

[Hazzard]

No, only can cure eye diseases

[James S]

I think it'd be hard to find any objective medical evidence one way or the other, but I've done candle meditations with no damage to my eyes.

Staring at any illuminated object for a long period will bleach the rhodopsin - the photo-sesitive chemicals in the retinas, which is why you get that negative afterimage when you close your eyes. If you can close your eyes for a while and that afterimage fades, then the rhodopsin is regenerating and you're all ok.

The fact that you can look directly at a candle flame without it causing pain is a good indication it won't cause harm.
It needs to be an intense light source such as medium to high powered laser or welding arc to cause retinal burns.

[jilola]

no.
But it can give you a headache like nothing  you've likely ever to have experienced.
Don't stare at the flame like it's the next coming of the christ. Just be aware of it to the exclusion of anything else.

2cents & L&L
Jouni

[andonitxo]

Tratakam is its yogic name. It means "to stare", and it has different variations, consisting in:
1.Not blinking.
2.Crossing the eyes.
3.Stare at something bright.

Yoga masters (the ones that passed away) assured that tratakam can cure any kind of decease. It must be practiced at least 20 minutes a day, starting with a shorter period and increasing it step by step. Eyes use to cry (they don't blink), but that's not a problem. Just listen to your body, and if you feel too tired stop it.

As said you can (always, without blinking):
1.Stare at something (usually a saint image, a Buddha, a God,... whatever).
2.Stare at the tip of your nose.
3.Stare at something bright (as a candle, a incense stick's tip, and so...).

Some magicians say that after 60 secs of tratakam and an empty mind your brain enters a trance state where to contact spirits. I've not tested that. Mind emptiness is not an easy work.

Tratakam is, usually, combined with pranayama (yogic breathing). There's a great combination of them  applying tratakam in the rest periods after doing fire-breathing (quite advanced exercise, anyway).

It seems there's a relationship between some brain parts and the nerves of the eyes (that could explain the two hemisphere's "better understanding" while your eyes are crossed looking at the tip of your nose).

After and before "staring" it's convenient to do some eye work-out rolling them, moving up and down, right and left, and so.

That's all I can remember by heart. Anyway I'd follow yoga's teachings more than those isolated exercises (God knows where they can from or who has altered them).

[Stookie]

It's proven that staring at a computer screen can cause a stigmatism over time. It happens to a lot of people. You'd think there would be other sources.