The Camera As Bell

Set your camera phone in front of you on a tripod or a sturdy rock. Set a repeating timer: one photo every minute for eight minutes. Sit. When the shutter clicks, return your attention to the sky. Do not pose. Do not look at the photos until you are done.

At the end, review the eight frames. Each one is a mark of returning attention, the same way a bell is in zen.

Intermittent cues condition the mind to notice when it has wandered and return gently. Photography is a neutral, non-judgmental cue that pairs well with contemplation.