Why meditation works.

1/ We have problems to solve and appetites to satisfy and the tools we use to do that are our intellectual functions – (conscious mental activity - CMA). CMA is the collection accumulation recall and association of data and the direction of action. It is the entire panoply of actions accessible to our awareness.) The antonym of CMA is conscious mental inactivity.
2/ Consider a single appetite or problem isolated from all others. Once that appetite is satisfied or problem is solved , we ideally abstain from further efforts to satisfy it - we abstain from further CMA regarding it. CMA has fulfilled it invaluable role.
3/ Simultaneously, once an appetite is satisfied or a problem is solved we feel a degree of fulfilment, contentment and peace-of-mind – that kind of happiness (Bliss).
4/ So: there is a direct relationship between the degree of happiness we feel and the level of CMA we are employing . Less CMA – more peace-of-mind.
5/ Extrapolating this last statement to its extreme case, it follows that we will experience perfect happiness (profound peace-of-mind - bliss) when we abstain from all conscious mental activity while remaining alert and passively aware.

Application
That is the psychology of the common human goal – peace of mind – true happiness.. Once we understand this relationship we can practice abstaining from CMA – recognising that although it has an invaluable role to play in satisfying our appetites and solving out problems it has no part to play in our being happy. We can do this in our daily lives by pausing occasionally and allowing our thoughts to dissipate. Concentrate on how we feel.
Or we can sit quietly in a room as free of distractions as possible with our back straight and unsupported and allow CMA to melt away – to burn itself out. Have no thoughts for or against them. Try to remain detached from whatever CMA arises. Neither encourage nor discourage whatever thoughts arise. All kinds of thinking are allowed to fade away as fast as they arise; even the notions of controlling and discarding are to be got rid of. Have patience – the beneficial experience will arise spontaneously when you are ready
Should you succeed in this, after much practice, you will experience extreme degrees of contentment – fulfilment and peace-of-mind. Eventually, the effects of success will change the condition of your mind. You will acquire the habit of pausing a moment during the day, allowing your mind to quieten down, reacquainting you with the peace that has become accessible. The random and habitual thought that permeated the untrained mind will fade away. Every waking moment will be underpinned by peace-of-mind.