Hi Guys,
I'm new here. I found my way via Buddhist Geeks and Daniel's book. By the way Bruno, can't wait to read 'The Truth' when it comes out. Perhaps you'll be the co-author?

I've been meditating on and off for around twelve years. I started off with fairly esoteric Tibetan traditions in the UK and then got fed up with various aspects of the tradition and have focused on basic breathing mediation and centring since then. I live in Italy now and am married with a young son so dedicating lots of time to practice is difficult. I can usually do two half-hour sessions a day and organising a short retreat each year is certainly doable and the idea of doing a solo retreat is relay attractive to me. I have done retreats with the Goenka crowd here in Italy in the past.
I'm writing because with the availability I have I am a little unsure about which particular technique to focus on. I have read way too many dharma books over the years and have too many techniques rolling around in my noggin.
I have been walking a shamanistic path for a long old time which has helped me gain a healthy psyche and confront a lot of those niggling psychological and inter-personal issues that I was certainly bogged down with in my twenties and I feel confident enough to say that I am emotionally and psychologically stable and more mature and very much dedicated to waking up without needing to get caught up in personal 'stuff'. Although I have limited time I am stable enough to be able to dedicate myself fully to that time.

Over the last year I have been able to quiet the mind successfully for say 5 minute periods with almost no absorbing thoughts and when thought does come I don't get attached. I have a fairly good level of clarity.
I don't know if it's relevant to the question I've posed but I can see what appear to be the elements of physical reality vibrating in and out of existence and the boundaries between the present moment and future moments seems blurred at times as I often dream and get glimpses of the future when I'm entering sleep or meditation. They are almost always mundane images of being in a new place, hearing a certain person say a certain thing. I find I can recall the moment I saw it fairly accurately when it does happen. It's no big deal and if I try to make it happen it fades away and seems to be a bi-product of being deeply present in the now.
I find as well that often getting the mind to focus strongly on an object is like flipping a switch. Depending on my energy level it can often be a case of setting an intent and sorting of pushing intent into the meditation space and the 'small' mind clicks off and there is simply spacious awareness; for like I said say a 5 minute period, no more.

I've rambled a bit, so I'll repeat the point of my writing and where I would like some helpful suggestions; what would be the best practice for a guy in my circumstance, with the limited time I have in order to get the maximum results. And, how relevant are the phenomena above that I described to the practice, and I guess more importantly what do they indicate in particular the point about 'clicking' awareness on as opposed to having to somehow strive for it?

Thanks for any forthcoming suggestions and keep up the good work...I have to say it. Love the fact that pragmatism is finally making it's mark on the world of realisation on the Buddhist path. Looking forward to making progress.
Matthew