The Systematic activation of consciousness is done in four steps: concentration, meditation, contemplation and illumination.
"Concentration is the keeping of attention on a certain thing. Meditation implies a concentrated analysis of all relations pertaining to this subject-matter. Contemplation entails the isolation of the problem until one begins to see the idea and can concentrate attention on that single point. If thereby activity ceases, there is a risk of falling asleep or into ordinary trance. If activity can be kept up long enough, illumination comes and the individual will find what he has been seeking."
K 7.17.9 Laurency, H.T. The Knowledge of Reality, 1979, The Henry T. Laurency Publishing Foundation