Meditation is a technique for working with the mind. If you think of the mind as a tool then the first step in putting it to use should be to examine it; then reflect on how it works and its possible uses; then put it to work as efficiently and effectively as you can. Meditation is a natural way of getting to know the mind so that we can investigate and understand how it works and then improve it through training. It takes a lot of practice to train the mind. How many years have you spent just basically letting your mind do what it wants to? Can you tell your mind ‘OK now, enough worry, just think happy thoughts - don’t wander off now’. Not me. Are you the mistress or master of your own mind?