I have contacted the local zen meditaion center and plan to go there to begin some kind of formal education on meditation and buddhism. So far I have been somewhat of a haphazard armchair Buddhist. I have read the words of the Buddha, some basic books and Pema Chodron. I have visited temples, which I find amazing! I just need a community to guide me and to help me understand the path better. So far, my meditative process is stagnant as I can scarcely get through five minutes without my mind whirling off on a tangent of thought.