Hints for Greater Meditation...

Proper Posture - On the one hand meditation can be done in any
position. But there are certain things that happen during
meditation that are enhanced by proper posture. The first thing to
consider is staying awake. Since you are producing a state of
extreme relaxation the most likely outcome, from a rushed and
hectic life, is to fall asleep. But with that aside meditation will
let energy (chi) flow through your body. The energy follows certain
paths and a seated upright position is the most enabling for this
energy flow.

Proper Breathing - Another reason for proper posture is that many
meditation methods have a breathing component. Not only is there
breath control involved but there are certain visualization that go
along with the breath. The most common visualization is that on the
inhale through the nose to see the breath come in through the nose,
travel up over the head, down the back and up the front of the body
to the stomach area. On the exhale to see the breath rise up from
the stomach area up the chest and out of the nose.

Proper Attitude - Meditation is a process of refinement that cannot
be rushed. An attitude of calm expectation is needed to progress.
If you become annoyed or angry at the speed of your progress then
rest assured your progress will become even slower. Since on of the
goals of meditation is to calm the mind then an angry or agitated
mind will only stand in the way of the desired goal.

How to Concentrate - The most often given advice on how to meditate
is to simply let your thoughts go. To just watch them and not to
follow them. Which is very difficult. We have a great tendency to
follow our thoughts into long stories until we forget completely
about the act of meditating. An easier way to help slow down our
thoughts is to concentrate on something. Imagine sitting on the
edge of a lake at night and a full moon is clearly reflected in the
lake. Keep your thoughts focused on the reflection until you can
hold the image without there being any ripples in the water