[ Sitting Practice ]

From this point the most important thing for the meditator to remember is to Not Intentionally Do Anything further. No squirming around in the seat, no expelling gases, intentional burping, stretching, getting comfortable, etcetera. The object is to let go. In one sense, the entire system can be said to be made up of techniques to accomplish this one end. Letting Go is not accomplished by any "Doing."^[1]
Stepping back from this into the world of practical reality the meditator will most likely need to work at withering away at his stored up grasping heaps. So from that point of view, at this point the seeker should reflect on his state of mind as to whether or not he is predominantly sluggish or full of vim and vigor.
If he is sluggish, he should turn his mind to either the examination of some phenomena or the examination of some aspect of the Dhamma. In either case it should not be an aspect of such a thing as appears to be a chore, but it should be something that is interesting. Follow this investigation up to, but not past the point where one is inclined to get up to do more research. At that point energy has been roused, enthusiasm has been roused, and, making one's self conscious of the matter, one should then turn to the cultivation of impassivity, getting high, and detachment.
If he is full of excitement, agitation, distraction and anxiety, he should cultivate impassivity, high getting, and detachment.
The cultivation of impassivity is the cultivation of non-reaction to stimulus.
Getting high in this system is the development of a technique of cultivating the habit of dwelling in mind in a lesser attached state by abandoning a more-attached state.
The Process is often, but not necessarily, begun by the use of some device to enhance concentration (concentration being itself the development of a lesser-attached state by the abandoning of the more attached state of distractedness).
If the meditator notices that there is in him distraction, he should direct his attention to some technique for fostering concentration. Once concentration has been attained, it should not be pursued further. The whole process culminates in Detachment, which should be understood to be detachment from anything one can conceive of...period, no arguments. You try to work out in your mind what such a state could be like, and you have gone down the wrong road.

-- P.P.

^[1]Try this exercise to physically understand the difference between "doing nothing" (which, by definition, is a doing, and is, therefore, impossible) and "not doing" (which is important to the understanding of every phase of the Pali practice, especially for Getting High). Clench your fist using extreme pressure. Hold the fist clenched for a few seconds, until you can focus on the mechanics of what you are doing. Then, without opening the fist or moving a muscle with intention, let go of the tension that is causing the fist to clench. This is not "doing" anything, this is the letting go of (the ending of) the doing that was the clenching. This example, demonstrated through the physical body, applies as well to all forms of grasping: grasping of the body; grasping after sense experience; grasping after perceptions; grasping after the creation of your own world; and grasping after consciousness.

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