The 8th century Mahayana Buddhist writer Kamalashila identified several prerequisites to meditation that can easily be applied to daily life in general. While they might be considered “ascetic,” most solitaries would find that these prerequisites reflect their ideal lifestyle. (From his Guide to Meditation, with commentary by the Dalai Lama.)
- to live in a conducive environment;
- to limit desires and practice contentment;
- to not be involved in too many activities;
- to maintain pure moral ethics, and
- to fully eliminate attachment and all other kinds of conceptual thoughts.