Seven Points of Physical Posture
1.Sit in the lotus posture (if possible), or in the half-lotus.

2.Keep the spine straight. If the back is straight, the channels will be straight. If the channels are straight, the winds will flow straight and the mind will remain stable.

3.Place the hands in the lap, four inches below the navel.

4.Draw the shoulders up, like 'vulture's wings'.

5.The neck should be bent forward a little like a hook.

6.Fix your eyes four inches in front of the tip of the nose.

7.The tongue should lightly touch the palate, to stop too much saliva from accumulating in the mouth.

Five Aspects of Meditation
1.What is the settled mind? Does it have a shape or form? Where does it come from, remain, or go to?

2.The moving or thinking mind. Do the thoughts have a colour or shape? Where do they come from, remain or go to? Where is the thought located in the body?

3.The mind reflects appearances. Examine the senses. Is there any difference between pleasant and unpleasant appearances?

Are appearances separate from the mind? Where do they come from?

4.Are the mind and body together? Are the mind and body the same or different? Is one permanent and the other not? Where is the mind located in the body?

5.Are the settled and moving minds together? Are they the same or different? Do they arise alternately? Does the moving mind arise out of the settled mind?

Objects of Concentration
If we can’t decide where the mind comes from, remains and goes to, then we can use various objects to fix the mind on, such as a Buddha statue, a butter lamp, a dot, stone, or the seed syllables OM AH HUM (which represent the Buddha’s body, speech and mind) on a piece of paper.

Faults in Meditation
If the mind is dull and sluggish, one can imagine a bright, white dot between the eyebrows. If the mind is agitated and scattered, imagine a black dot just in front of you.