The real "test" whether or not our meditation is "successful" or not reveals itself in the way we live and interact with life when we get off our meditation cushion. During the 20th century and continuing into the present, many Buddhist leaders have been promoting what they call "engaged Buddhism", meaning, sit on the mat but then get off and into the world affecting everyone and everything around you with the positive, the beneficial, the noble.
Robertson Work, a Buddhist and author of several books states this position clearly: "If Buddhists focus on cultivating compassion just within themselves, they are not being Bodhisattvas. A compassionate being who understands the truth of interbeing and impermanence is motivated to liberate other beings from delusion and suffering. Bodhisattvas, as engaged Buddhists, must take part in political, social, economic, cultural, and environmental actions that relieve suffering. This includes engagement at various levels—family, community, city, state, nation, international, and planetary. Of course, this is an impossible mission but we have always known that the vows to relieve all suffering are such. However, we continue to make this vow and take every action that we can within our spheres of influence."
Robertson Work, a Buddhist and author of several books states this position clearly: "If Buddhists focus on cultivating compassion just within themselves, they are not being Bodhisattvas. A compassionate being who understands the truth of interbeing and impermanence is motivated to liberate other beings from delusion and suffering. Bodhisattvas, as engaged Buddhists, must take part in political, social, economic, cultural, and environmental actions that relieve suffering. This includes engagement at various levels—family, community, city, state, nation, international, and planetary. Of course, this is an impossible mission but we have always known that the vows to relieve all suffering are such. However, we continue to make this vow and take every action that we can within our spheres of influence."
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