Article: Meditation is the key to changing how your mind works and will allow you to travel the path to nirvana. It should be a part of your everyday life. While you can learn to meditate on your own, a teacher can help guide you and apply proper techniques. You can meditate alone, but it is helpful to meditate with other people and under the guidance of a teacher. You cannot travel the path without meditating.  Meditation will help you better understand yourself and the world. The Buddhist teachings (i.e. The Four Noble Truths) are the lens that you view the world through. If you are unable to accept the teachings, you will not be able to follow the other steps in the path. The right view and the right understanding is the foundation of  the path.  See the world as it really is and not as you would like for it to be. You seek to understand reality completely and through an objective lens. This requires you to examine, study, and learn.  The Four Noble Truths are the basis of the right understanding.  You must believe that those truths describe things as they really are.  Nothing is perfect or permanent.  Think critically about situations instead of inserting your personal feelings, desires, and concerns. Commit yourself to developing an attitude that is line with your belief system.  Act as if all life is equal and deserves to be treated with compassion and love. This applies to yourself and to others. Reject thoughts that are selfish, violent, and hateful.  Love and non-violence should should be the rule. Show regard for all living things (e.g. plants, animals, and people) regardless of their status.  For example, you would treat a wealthy person and poor person with the same respect. People from all backgrounds, age groups, races, ethnicity, economic groups should be treated equally. The third step is the right speech. When practicing the right speech, you do not lie, slander, gossip, or speak harshly. Instead you speak kind and truthful words. You words should affirm and uplift others.  Knowing when to be silent and holding back your words is also important. Having the right speech is something you practice every day. Your actions flow out of what is in your heart and in your mind. Treat yourself and other people well. Do not destroy life or steal.  Live a peaceful life and help other people live peaceful lives as well. Be honest when you deal with other people.  For example, you would not deceive or lie to get ahead or get something that you want. Your presence and actions should be positive and improve the lives of other people and society. Choose a profession that is in agreement with your beliefs.  Do not have a job that harms other people, involves killing animals, or cheating.  Selling weapons, drugs, or working at a slaughterhouse are not acceptable occupations. Whatever profession you choose, you must carry it out with integrity. For example, if you work in sales, you would not use deception or lies to get people to purchase your product. Putting true effort into anything that you do will lead to success. Rid your mind of negative thoughts and focus on positive thinking.  Have enthusiasm for whatever you do (e.g. school, career, friendships, hobbies etc.). You have to consistently practice having positive thoughts as this does not always come naturally. This will prepare your mind to practice mindfulness. The four tenets of right effort are:  Prevent evil and unwholesome states (sensual desire, ill will, worry, doubt, restlessness) of from arising Get rid of evil and unwholesome states that have already arisen by countering them with good thoughts, redirecting your attention to something else, or confronting the thought and investigating the source of the thought.  Produce good and wholesome states Maintain and perfect the good and wholesome states Mindfulness allows you to see reality and see things as they really are. The four foundations of mindfulness are contemplation of body, feelings, states of mind, and phenomena.  When you are mindful, you live in the moment and are open to the entire experience.  You focus on your present situation not on the future or the past.  Be attentive to your body, your feelings, your thoughts, your ideas, and everything around you.  Living in the present frees you desires from your future and past. Mindfulness also means being attentive to other people's feelings, emotions, and body. Right concentration is the ability to focus your mind on a single object and not be distracted by outside influences. Going through the other parts of the path will allow you concentrate.  Your mind will be focused and not filled with stress and anxiety.  You will have a good relationship with yourself and the world. Right concentration allows you to view something clearly and as it truly is. Concentration is similar to mindfulness.  However, when you concentrate you are not aware of all of the different sensations and feelings.  For example, if you are concentrating on an exam, you are only focused on taking the exam.  If you were practicing mindfulness during the exam, you would notice how you felt taking the exam, how the other people around you were acting, or how you were sitting during the exam.

What is a summary?
Meditate regularly. Have the right view. Have right intentions. Speak the right words. Have the right action. Choose a right Livelihood. Practice the right effort. Practice Mindfulness. Focus your mind.