Ajahn Chah

The mind rises above them.

This is the true goal of all Dharma practice.

When developing Samadhi, fix your attention on the breath and imagine that you're sitting absolutely alone with no other people and nothing else around to bother you.

Develop this perception in the mind and sustain it until the mind completely lets go of the world outside.

Don't give space to any thoughts that will give rise to confusion or agitation in the mind.

Develop this perception until all the other memories, perceptions and thoughts concerning other people and things subside.

And you're no longer doubting or wondering about the other people or things around you.

Allow the in-breath and the out-breath to continue naturally without forcing them to be longer or shorter, stronger or weaker than normal.

Allow the breath to continue in a state of normality and balance.

Once the mind has let go of external mind objects, it means that you'll no longer feel disturbed by the sounds of traffic or other noises.

You won't feel irritated with anything outside, whether it's forms, sounds or whatever.

They won't be a source of disturbance because the mind won't be paying attention to them.

If the mind is agitated by different things and you can't concentrate, try taking an extra deep breath until the lungs are completely full and then release all the air until there's nothing left inside.

Do this several times, then re-establish awareness and continue to develop concentration.

Having re-established mindfulness, it's normal that for a period the mind will be calm and then changes and becomes agitated again.

When this happens, make the mind firm.

Take another deep breath and then expel all the air from your lungs.

Feel the lungs to capacity again for a moment and then re-establish mindfulness on the breathing.

Fix mindfulness on the in-breath and the out-breath and continue to maintain awareness in this way.

the practice tends to be this way, vacillating.