I'm an atheist but I quite like Buddism...

[Mudhammam]

Which ancient traditions, and is the ancient tradition any functional part of whatever "sensible" thing you have in mind? More sensible than shitting on the sidewalk or less sensible than shitting on the sidewalk (honest question, lol)? In what way does this particular form of meditation help scientists understand experiential states (and which states)?

I think that you'll find christianity to be just as ala carte as any "ancient tradition", btw..and that doesn't really salvage christianity for me so it's not going to salvage some ancient tradition. But, opinions and positions vary, obvs.

Well, not having experience with any myself, I can only refer you to the statements of one devoted practitioner whose works I find, for the most part, credible, and that is Sam Harris; he specifically talks about the teachings of Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta as including a number of useful beliefs and methods about the self and how one can lose all sense of it, and discipline their mind so as to attain states of spiritual bliss, peace, quiet, etc., through the ABSENCE of all thought. I'd recommend his book, "Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion."