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@Jeroen said:
I came across a piece of writing which said something along the lines of, “if someone does not wish to meditate, he is likely reacting against some association with Eastern religion and instead you should encourage him by using other words, such as awareness, alertness, consciousness.”

This made me think, if awareness and alertness are key components of meditation, what happens when you focus? Is that also a meditative experience? For example, when you watch a really good movie, or when you are in a life-threatening situation climbing a mountain, or in an accident? You will likely be familiar with one or more of these.

Or even catching a ball or painting a picture. Athletes and artists call it being in the zone. We aren't fantasizing about the future or lamenting the past, we are exactly what we are doing right now.

I recognized a different kind of thought while I was washing the dishes the other day. It was present moment thought. Washing dishes mind. It wasn't about what I will have or what I did have for dinner, it was simply "Chunk needs scrubbing". I had to stop what I was doing for a moment and appreciate the fleeting feeling that arose at the recognition. If, at that moment, someone had asked me "What is the Buddha?" I would have said "Chunk needs scrubbing".

We call it meditation practice for a reason, but what are we practicing for? Meditation practice could also be called life practice for those looking to live a meditative life. Whatever we are doing right now, if we find ourselves thinking about anything other than what we are doing right now, we just bring ourselves back to the present moment. Just like when we do sitting meditation and bring ourself back to the breath.

Knowing that my consciousness could change, I decided to do a little experiment. I sat facing a wall, and just tried to sharpen my consciousness. I sat looking at the wall, but quickly found myself devolving into staring in an effort to “push” consciousness along. That led to less awareness, not more. So I decided to focus on my hearing, but I found I became less conscious of sight if I did that, and again became less aware, and rather sleepy. After a little more experimentation I found that in avoiding staring and in avoiding the dulling of the senses some good things happen.

Are these kind of techniques — of manipulating awareness and alertness — actually useful?

I guess it would depend on the person. For myself, when I am not trying a new experiment like yours, I sit with my eyes open just enough that my eye lashes aren't triggering any muscle twitches around the eyes and look down at a 45° angle bout two feet in front of me. Then I focus on nothing in particular. When I focus on nothing in particular, I find I am more aware of everything.

On the topic of becoming more conscious

I'm reminded of this:

Decide to have a break and go skinny dipping

A song about how to pronounce Maori place names, including the longest place name in the world- Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu

One of the translation is as follows "The hill of the flute playing by Tamatea – who was blown hither from afar, grazed his knees climbing mountains, fell on the earth, and encircled the land – to his beloved one"

I love to find faults with anything, I am exceptionally good at it. People might not want to hear risks involved with this and that, but it's not finding them, the issue. It's ignoring them or focusing too much on them. In any case, thank you for your lengthy reply, if you truly disagree, you went out of your way with this, so your kindness is appreciated and I'll let you continue the topic with your original points as intended.