How do I know when I 'deepen' my meditation?

[Panne]

I am currently meditating everyday for 15-20 minutes (not trying to astral project as of yet).

One thing I feel very unsure of is if I am making any progress. I have been meditating regularly for only about 2 weeks, so I haven't really perfected the art yet, so to say. The main confusion lies in this:

Sometimes at an early stage (<10, some times 5 mins) in my meditation I get this light, floating feeling; sort of feeling bigger than I really am. While this is pleasent, I usually don't manage to maintain it during the entire sitting.
    I've been trying mainly 2 different types of meditation: focusing on my hara-point (or do I have to 'open' my base-chakra first? this is something I haven't focused on) and breath control (i.e. counting from one to ten, "breathing with my stomach"). I often experience the floating feeling early on during breath-exercises, and I'm wondering if this is on the right track? I mean: when attempting hara-meditation I usually don't get that floating feeling, which makes the meditation feel less 'useful' or as if I'm not making progress.

So basically: Is the floating feeling on the right track, something I should focus on? Or doesn't it necessarily matter if that occurs or not?

ALSO: note that thought-process is basically equal with both methods; or perhaps the (attempted) lack of...(?)

Thanks in Advance!

And: sorry if this topic has been dealt with 1000 times before!

[Psan]

Floating sensation etc are nice and I think it means you are making good progress.
But most important thing during meditation, is the silencing of mind. Although, you have not mentioned it, but I guess you are practicing that. More you silence the useless chatter and be in 'now', more you get closer to the self. In turn this will help greatly for AP.

[Stookie]

I agree with Psan - the sensations that come up should be treated the way you treat your thoughts during meditation. Just passively observe and let it go.

Meditation is hard to look at in terms of progress though. When done correctly, the "switch" is kinda like "waking up" into a new state of consciousness. In the process you don't say to yourself "I'm almost there... I'm almost there..." or you won't get there. It's hard to explain - it's a strange balance you have to keep between consciousness and unconsciousness.

[MasterMind378]

I agree with everything said... Just an idea, though - when I started to meditate I felt similarly lost in the sense of not knowing if I was doing it right and how it should feel like. I was lucky enough to have ppl around me who were far more experienced to talk to. But, the biggest advancement I made after a karma diagnostics session (assisted/guided meditation, where the therapist helps you get into a deep meditative/relaxed state and trance). From that point on, after some basic breathing, I was always able to enter deep meditative state quickly and easily just by remembering the state/sensation/feeling of it and switching off my mind.

[iamsmitty]

you could gage your progress by you level of peace aftwards??

meditation is about expanding beyond the concious mind, into our true self... yet it is your mind that is wanting to know , to measure to guage...

if it feels good follow it....