The purpose of Spiritual practice is to fulfill our desire for happiness

begin quote from "An Open Heart" by the Dalai Lama page 30 near the top:

The purpose of Spiritual practice is to fulfill our desire for happiness. We are all equal in wishing to be happy and to overcome our suffering, and I believe that we all share the right to fulfill this aspiration.

When we look at the happiness we seek and the suffering we wish to avoid, most evident are the pleasant and unpleasant feelings we have as a result of our sensory experience of the tastes, smells, textures, sounds and forms that we perceive around us. There is, however, another level of experience. True happiness must be pursued on the mental level as well.

If we compare the mental and physical levels of happiness, we find that the experiences of pain and pleasure that take place mentally are actually more powerful. For example, though we may find ourselves in a very pleasant environment, if we are mentally depressed or if something is causing us profound concern, we will hardly notice our surroundings. On the other hand, if we have inner mental happiness, we find it easier to face our challenges or other adversity. This suggests that our experiences of pain and pleasure of our thoughts and emotions are more powerful than those felt on a physical level.

end quote from page 31 at the top.

Begin quote from page 25 from "An Open Heart" from the introduction:

May the poor find wealth
Those weak with sorrow find joy
May the forlorn find new hope
Constant happiness and prosperity

May the frightened cease to be afraid
and those bound be free
May the weak find power
And may their hearts join in friendship