The highest purpose in meditation is to reach a state of enlightenment.
This state is called by many names; nirvana, satori, liberation, god-realisation, cosmic consciousness. It is attainable by all of us.
At this level the mediator dwells in perpetual bliss, free from all earthly desires. There is no more sense of seperate between the individual and God. The spirit becomes at one with all that is the universe. It is released from the wheel of rebirth, the ceaseless cycle of earthly incarnations, and has no need to come to earth again.
In the quest for enlightenment gurus, saints and yogis spend many years in meditation and solitude. Even then, the search may take many lifetimes. There are on earth today only a few evolved beings, such as the much-loved Mother Meera, who have attained it.
Obviously, very few people in the western world can give up their homes, their families, and their livelihood to pursue this goal.
For us, enlightenment remains a very distant prospect indeed, although we may occasionally, in those moments of deep stillness, catch a glimpse of it.
Everytime we meditate with love in our hearts we move another small step further along the road towards blissful eternity.
Yet even those not wishing to take their practice of meditation to this point may still reap the reap benefits that improve their lives in countless ways.
Meditation will be found to be a practical life skill.