Why Meditate? A Conversation

During a random conversation via email, one of my friends (who is a regular meditator and prefers to stay anonymous) responded with this answer to the question of "Why do you meditate?" ...

"I meditate with the goal that I will realize the true nature of the self, realize that "I" am not this body. I meditate to get closer to God. At times I meditate to reduce stress, to get away from it all BUT I know that is never my goal and I have to meditate out of my inner convictions rather than out of necessity. I meditate with the hope that I will gradually uncondition the impressions that have been created by living in the material world for all these years. I meditate so that I can perceive things as they really are rather than judge them through my materially jaundiced eyes. I meditate to realize that the "ego" is the pseudo-soul vying to maintain it's image at every occasion. I meditate with the hope that someday I'll realize the purpose of our existence. I meditate so that someday I shall see the unity in all creation, not thru reading alone but by realization thru determined effort."