The purpose of meditation

In a way, meditation is its own purpose, really. But if we could say there is a specific purpose to meditation beyond itself, that purpose would be happiness:

We tend to seek happiness outside ourselves – where we are, what we possess, who we are with - but meditation helps us to realise that real, lasting happiness is an experience which flows from within and exists independently of our outer circumstances. As our meditation evolves, we become increasingly happier.

I found the above passage in a little article called "The gifts of meditation".