About meditation

During meditation, we practice paying attention (mindfulness) to the physical sensations of the breath. The breath is always available to us as long as we are alive and is an ally in our cultivation of mindfulness. When we become aware that we have drifted into our inner dialogue of thoughts, carried away by our emotions, have behaved reactively rather than responsively, or suffer from physical ailments, we can gently try our best to calmly return to the physical sensations of the air flowing through our nostrils or the rise and fall of our abdomen. The breath is a simple but great teacher of mindfulness.

During meditation, whenever we find ourselves getting caught up in thoughts, feelings, or physical sensations, we first simply acknowledge whatever comes up and then consciously let it go by returning to our breath. This acknowledging is kind, gentle and unconditional. If thoughts continue to come--which is common and human nature for one who is a newcomer and even for those who have been meditating their whole lives-- again and again, we simply acknowledge it and then return to the physical sensations of the breath if we are practicing sitting meditation or return to the activity we are engaging in that very moment (walking, listening, eating, driving, etc.) 

If your mind or emotions continue to wander and you become frustrated, angry, bored, blissful, excited, etc. you calmly and kindly note the feelings and the associated thoughts and physical sensations and then let it go. You do this thousands and thousands of times. Kind, loving patience towards yourself profoundly more important than your expectations about the meditation. Many wise mindfulness teachers have recommended that the best way to approach your meditation is to let go of all of your expectations completely, the best you can. With mindfulness, you become fully awake to your life and are truly alive no matter what is happening to you right now.

Portions of text courtesy of wikipedia, a free "copyleft" source.