Why meditate? want a truthful answer without spiritual terms? What I think of meditation is sitting with a good posture and concentrating on breathing and thinking about nothing. How does this help a person with anything? The only plus point that I can think of meditation is that, during the time you meditate, you forget all the distractions around you and become calm and stress free. Why do people talk about enlightenment?

I saw this definition of enlightenment on Google:


  Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-incurred immaturity. (Kant, 1784)


Doesn't that imply "Enlightenment" equals "being disciplined, mature and independent"? How does meditation achieve this? Don't we become mature through experience and growth, disciplined through hard work and independent by accepting yourself?

Hence why do we meditate? Why do we say things like "enlightenment can be achieved through meditation" when it can be achieved without it?
Stop spreading non-sense. Both of you. Please refer to AN 10.1

“Sir, what is the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics?” “Ānanda, having no regrets is the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics.”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of having no regrets?” “Joy is the purpose and benefit of having no regrets.”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of joy?” “Rapture …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of rapture?” “Tranquility …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of tranquility?” “Bliss …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of bliss?” “Immersion …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of immersion?” “Truly knowing and seeing …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of truly knowing and seeing?” “Disillusionment and dispassion …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of disillusionment and dispassion?” “Knowledge and vision of freedom is the purpose and benefit of disillusionment and dispassion.
So, Ānanda, the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics is not having regrets. Joy is the purpose and benefit of not having regrets. Rapture is the purpose and benefit of joy. Tranquility is the purpose and benefit of rapture. Bliss is the purpose and benefit of tranquility. Immersion is the purpose and benefit of bliss. Truly knowing and seeing is the purpose and benefit of immersion. Disillusionment and dispassion is the purpose and benefit of truly knowing and seeing. Knowledge and vision of freedom is the purpose and benefit of disillusionment and dispassion. So, Ānanda, skillful ethics progressively lead up to the highest.”

@dhamma4life: Meditation is never forced concentration. Please refer to MN 118

I tell you, monks, that this — the in-&amp;-out breath — is classed as a body among bodies, which is why the monk on that occasion remains focused on the body in &amp; of itself — ardent, alert, &amp; mindful — putting aside greed &amp; distress with reference to the world.