Love and Compassion

The depth of realization attained in meditation is measured by the acts 
of love and compassion it inspires.
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

For those of us who have a regular meditation practice, how are we to 
judge its effectiveness? The first level answer is not by what happens 
during meditation. Even on those days when the mind seems as restless as 
the wind, our constant returning to a point of focus brings many 
benefits: an improved ability to concentrate, increased awareness of 
what is occurring in the mind, and an ability to be present as we go 
about our daily activities. Often others notice the real benefits of our 
meditation practice before we do: an abiding calm peacefulness and a 
pleasant disposition despite outer circumstances. However the greatest 
blessing of meditation is that natural compassion with all those we come 
in contact with because we realize that we are not really separate from 
each other at all.