The Candle - A Healing Story from The Dancing Buddha

Introduction

In the heart of London, Ontario, nestled between the bustle of Richmond Row and the serenity of the Thames River, stood a small Vietnamese monastery called Windlight Zen Temple. New to the city, the monastery was a sanctuary of mindfulness amid the hum of urban life.

The temple’s abbot, Master Soryu, was known for his gentle wisdom and knack for making ancient teachings accessible in modern settings. Three devoted students—Kael, Amara, and Jorin—frequented the temple, drawn by its peaceful atmosphere and their master’s transformative lessons.

One crisp autumn morning, as the wind carried the scent of fallen leaves and distant traffic, Master Soryu gathered his students in the temple’s quiet courtyard. Today, he intended to teach them a profound truth about living with purpose and love.

The Candle’s Lesson

Master Soryu stood in the courtyard, holding a slender candle. Its flame flickered gently in the breeze. “This candle,” he began, his voice calm yet resonant, “holds a lesson for us all. It is the light of your heart—your love, compassion, and joy. Our task today is to discover how to keep this flame alive.”

Kael, the youngest student, leaned forward eagerly. “Master, how can such a small flame teach us something so big?”

The master’s eyes twinkled. “This small flame contains all the wisdom you need. Walk too fast, and it flickers. Walk too slow, and it may extinguish. How we walk, sit, talk, listen, and act determines whether this flame endures or fades. Let’s begin.”

The Streets of London: A Test of Pace

Master Soryu handed each student a lit candle and led them out of the monastery and into the streets of downtown London. The contrast between the temple’s tranquility and the city’s vibrant energy was palpable. Cars honked, cyclists whizzed by, and pedestrians hurried along Dundas Street.

“Observe the pace of the world around you,” Master Soryu instructed. “What do you notice?”

Amara, the most reflective of the three, observed, “Everything moves so quickly. People rush from place to place without pause.”

Master Soryu nodded. “And what happens to their flames?”

“They flicker,” Jorin replied, his tone thoughtful. “Or maybe they don’t even realize they’ve gone out.”

As they walked, the students experienced the challenge of keeping their flames alive. Kael, curious and impulsive, walked too quickly, and his flame was soon extinguished by a gust of wind. “Master, my flame is gone,” he said, his voice tinged with disappointment.

“This,” Master Soryu said gently, “is what happens when we let urgency dictate our pace. The wind of life will always be there. But if we rush, we cannot protect our light.”

Amara, trying to avoid Kael’s mistake, slowed her pace dramatically. She lingered so much that her flame dimmed and went out. “I was too careful,” she admitted, her face clouded with self-doubt.

“The flame requires attention, not hesitation,” the master explained. “Walking too slowly is as unbalanced as moving too fast.”

Jorin, who had long practiced the art of mindfulness, kept his flame steady. “I focus on the candle and adjust to the wind,” he said when Master Soryu asked how he succeeded.

The master smiled. “Exactly. The flame is your love. It thrives when you are present, moving at its natural pace—not rushing ahead or lagging behind.”

The Candle as a Way of Being

As they returned to the monastery, the master invited the students to reflect on the lesson in a broader sense. Sitting in the meditation hall, the scent of sandalwood filling the air, Master Soryu asked, “Do you see how this applies not just to walking, but to every aspect of life?”

The students looked thoughtful.

“To walk at the pace of love,” the master continued, “is to live at the pace of love. This means we walk, sit, talk, listen, and act with the same care we give the flame.”

Amara asked, “If we’re not acting at this pace, what pace are we at?”

“A pace dictated by ego,” Master Soryu replied. “When we rush, we are driven by anxiety or ambition. When we delay, we are held back by fear. Neither serves the flame. What is needed is alignment—letting love guide our every step and action.”

The Meditation of the Flame

The master then led a guided meditation to deepen the lesson. He placed a single candle in the center of the hall and invited the students to close their eyes.

“Breathe deeply,” he said, his voice a calm current. “Feel the rhythm of your breath—steady, effortless, like the flame’s glow. Imagine a candle within your heart. Its flame burns warm and golden, unaffected by time or distraction.”

The students inhaled and exhaled, the imagery of the flame steadying their thoughts.

“Now, picture yourself moving through your day,” the master continued. “You are walking—not too fast, not too slow—feeling the flame steady within you. See yourself speaking gently, listening with your whole being, and acting with compassion. Each moment, the flame remains bright, because you honor its pace.”

After a long pause, Master Soryu added two affirmations for them to carry:

1. “I move at the pace of love, allowing my light to guide me.”

2. “My actions flow from compassion, steady and true.”

The students repeated the affirmations softly, their voices harmonizing with the flicker of the candle.

The Final Test: Acting at the Pace of Love

The master concluded the day with a challenge. Each student was given a new candle and asked to carry it through their daily lives—on walks, during conversations, and even in moments of decision-making. “This flame is not just a symbol,” Master Soryu reminded them. “It is a mirror of your inner state. Learn to live with it, and you will learn to live at the pace of love.”

Over the weeks that followed, the students discovered profound changes. Kael learned to temper his impulsiveness, finding joy in deliberate actions. Amara overcame her fear of failure, embracing a confident steadiness. Jorin, who had always been mindful, deepened his awareness of how the flame extended into every corner of life.

Conclusion and Reflection

The lesson of the flame transformed not only the students but also those around them. Their newfound way of living inspired others in the community. They began to see the value of walking, sitting, speaking, and acting at the pace of love—not as an abstract ideal but as a daily practice.

Questions for Reflection

1. When do you feel rushed or slowed by external pressures? How does this affect your inner flame?

2. How can you bring mindfulness to your speech, actions, and relationships?

3. What steps can you take to ensure you are living at the pace of love?

4. How might your interactions change if you honored the pace of your inner flame?

Quote from the Dancing Buddha

"The flame within you is love’s gentle light. Let it guide your every step, not in haste or hesitation, but with the steady rhythm of a heart aligned with compassion."