What is the main purpose of meditation in Buddhism?

The main purpose of meditation in Buddhism is to achieve enlightenment and liberation from suffering. Meditation serves as a foundational practice in Buddhism, allowing individuals to cultivate mindfulness, focus, and insight. Through meditation, practitioners work towards understanding the nature of reality and the self, which is crucial for attaining Nirvana – the ultimate goal of Buddhism. This process helps individuals recognize and transcend the sources of their suffering, leading to a profound transformation in consciousness.

While community service, memorization of texts, and physical health may accompany Buddhist practices or be viewed as beneficial outcomes, they are not the central purpose of meditation. Community service is more aligned with the application of Buddhist teachings in daily life, memorizing texts is part of preserving and transmitting the tradition, and physical well-being can be a side benefit of meditation but is not its main objective. The core essence of Buddhist meditation is inherently focused on spiritual development and the pursuit of liberation from the cycles of suffering.