I've found the following procedure to be useful in making the most of spiritual teachings: (1) establish a good motivation; (2) stabilize your mind through meditation; (3) get the information; (4) establish an appropriate practice through analysis, synthesis, resolution and dedication.

You may find the following basic meditation technique helpful in Step (2). It is called anapanasati or "awareness of breathing". It is intended to help you reach a restful and alert state of mind called samatha, or "calm abiding" (Tibetan: Zhiné). It is said that this technique was taught by Gautama Buddha himself in the fifth century BC, and was written down in the first century BC in these words of the Pali canon:

There's a lot more but this should be good enough for starting out. Here are some tips on how to apply this technique:

• Where to sit
  • The general principle is to choose a place that is quiet, free of distracting activity and noises, and physically safe. Turn off the electronics and park your tractor.
  • If you can comfortably maintain a cross-legged posture such as the lotus position for extended periods, then the ground or floor could be a good choice. Even then, a mat and cushion are very useful.
  • If you are more comfortable in a chair or bench (or a pew), it should be straight-backed and level, at a height where the seat does not cut off circulation when your feet are on the floor.
  • As Gelek Rimpoche (quoting Allen Ginsberg) said, "If the ground is around, sit on the ground; if the ground's not there, sit on a chair."

• Posture
  • When sitting in a chair:
    • Your feet should rest comfortably on the floor.
    • You may find it more comfortable sometimes to cross your legs at the ankles, but never at the knees -- ­your leg may go to sleep -- also, this creates asymmetrical stress on the lower back. Try it and see.
  • If physically possible, you should sit erect with the back straight from the base right up to the top of the head. This keeps the spinal cord straight, which is the easiest and lowest-­stress position to maintain. Don't lean back or slouch forward.
  • To help keep your shoulders erect, it helps to sit with your hands in your lap near to your body with one hand cradling the other.
  • The most relaxing position for the hands is to touch the thumb tips together in a circle.
  • Your jaw should be relaxed, without clenching the teeth.
  • Your tongue should be resting on the alveolar ridge behind the top front teeth.
  • Your lips should be closed so that breathing is through the nose if possible.
  • Your eyes should be lightly (not tightly) closed and focused at a point at the level of your nose and about an arm's length in front -- ­this helps in "setting mindfulness to the front."
• Mindfulness of breathing
  • Just breathe in and out, through your nose if possible, slowly and naturally.
  • Pause and relax after each in-­breath and out­-breath, but don't hold your breath so long that you have to suck it in or blow it out.
  • Unless you have a head cold or allergy, your breath should not make much noise.
  • On the in-­breath, notice the cooler air moving in through your nose, down through the air passages and into your lungs.
  • On the out­-breath notice the warmer air moving out in the opposite direction.
• Body awareness
  • Notice how the body accomplishes the in-­breath by raising the ribs and lowering the diaphragm, and the out-­breath by lowering the ribs and raising the diaphragm.
  • You may also notice your heart beating, especially at the pauses between breaths.
  • Notice sensations of heat, cold, and touch on your body.
• Calming the body
  • Are your teeth clenched? If so, just let your jaw relax.
  • In the same way, check the muscles of your body from top to bottom, relaxing them wherever you find tightness.
  • Check the muscles in your neck, your shoulders, your arms, your hands. Check your upper and lower back, your buttocks, your thighs, your lower legs, even your toes(!), relaxing wherever you find tightness.
• Calming the thoughts
  • Just watch the thoughts arise and watch them fade away (this is called "cultivating the witness"). Whether they are disturbing or pleasant, don't chase them around or let them chase you around, just watch them rise and fall, just as you are watching your breath.
  • If your mind starts to fill with distracting thoughts, you may find it useful to count the breaths in cycles of 3 in­-out breaths. This brings your attention back to the breath and the body, and leaves you relaxed, yet alert to whatever arises.
  • Paying attention to the body can also help you find out when you are becoming overly agitated. For instance, if you notice symptoms like your heart beating faster, heat rising in your face, and your breathing speeding up, just returning your attention to the breath can help you overcome this agitation.

This level of calm and relaxed attention creates fertile ground for religious teachings (dharma). With fewer mental or physical distractions, it is easier to let the meaning of the words sink in and take root.