One of the tricks to taking your meditations to a deeper level is to study in the physical presence of an Enlightened master. To learn the secret techniques and receive proper training from a teacher is everything... along with being in the right place at the right time.

Diving deeper into your meditation practice is sort of like flying a plane. Without instruction, you won't know how to start the plane. With a little instruction, you might be able to get going, but you won't know how to fly. With more instruction you'll be able to fly in normal situations. If you want to fly at higher altitudes, where the weather is more of a challenge, but the view is breathtaking, you'll need much more instruction.

You can learn the basic teachings of meditation from a book. But in order to truly advanced in your meditation practice you need the energy, example, the patience and wisdom of a living master. Not to mention the humor and fun! The teacher is able to transfer high energy into your being. The empowerments and energy he or she gives are able to activate your chakras, making it possible for you to do things that you normally would not be able to do. The teacher's empowerments wake up your past life abilities and talents, and you can even boost your IQ. 

As a student of meditation, you will need and want your teachers honesty, even if it includes a bruised ego now and again.

Purity is something else that comes with studying directly with a teacher. Being in a teacher's energy field on a regular basis will help you in removing negative karmic patterns that you may have acquired over the course of your lives. Also, by watching your teacher in different situations you will get to personally see how he or she displays grace under pressure. Life isn't easy, not even for the Enlightened.