@thittato
i would take Kenneth's advice very seriously

just start doing the practices, as best as you can, and as best that you understand them. just keep at create a journal of your experiences, compare with others who report their experience and the experiences as described in the text you've read.
that said, i understand your deep intellectual curiosity. i have the same attitude. so here's my suggestion:
read and re-read MCTB. do the practices. if you're more scientifically inclined, listen to Shinzen Young's "the Science of Enlightenment" and his dharma talks. http://bit.ly/shinzen-dharma-talks (his style is Vipassana but he's description is more secular and contemporary, so you might groove with his lingo).
for example here's his instructions on how to note and label
http://www.shinzen.org/Retreat%20Reading/How%20to%20Note%20and%20Label.pdf
but again, the bottom line is: just do it and let us know what happens and there are lots of people here to answer your questions

~C