Meditation is perhaps the most misunderstood concept within the realm of spiritual practice.
Many methods are discussed that teach the principles or the methods of meditation. Even as I write those words I am struck by the arrogance and ignorance that those who claim to teach meditation exhibit in their efforts. And effort is the key word here in that most meditation techniques taught by the experts require a great deal of effort.
Effort is the antithesis of meditation. Meditation is a character of thought, the state of meditation requires an empty vessel, an empty consciousness. Any effort to empty the consciousness requires a method and any method requires learning and knowledge which fills the consciousness.
The background is that the masters, the mystics exist in a state of meditative thought. The commentary, judgments, categorizations, justifications, identifications, and the rest of the constant chatter of the mind are absent from their thought processes.
How do you teach that? How do you learn anything without further cluttering the mind with more of the basis of this chatter? The simple answer is that you do not. Meditation is not something you learn, nor "practice" nor exert any effort toward. Anything learned or practiced tends to reinforce the programmed awareness that must be resolved and dissolved before a meditative state of consciousness is possible.
Does this confuse you, frustrate you, or enrage you? It may as it is so far from what the average person believes.
Think of this: When Jesus performed a miracle, who considered it a miracle? Did Jesus think it was a miracle? Or was it those individuals he was trying to awaken from their illusory state of awareness?
In order to achieve a meditative state, you must first realize that there is absolutely nothing to achieve, any striving to achieve anything misses the point entirely.
There is a "way" to "enter" the state of meditative thought. That "way" is to focus thought and being on the present moment. According to Krishnamurti there is only one "way" to focus thought on the present moment and that is to realize when you are not. The more you are aware of when you are not in the present moment, the less you disperse your energy into the past and future.
Enhanced awareness is the key to spiritual growth. Observation of self is the process by which we enhance our awareness. When you observe the programming and conditioning of the ego, the ego loses its power over your being. The "spell" is broken.