Contentment is the most important attribute of virtues and the most fundamental of all virtues. Where there is contentment, the remaining divine virtues will be there themselves. Contentment is the cornerstone of happiness. Contentment is one of the most essential needs in today’s competitive world. We must be first self-satisfied and satisfied by Lord, in order to lead a contented life. Then we receive the blessings of happiness naturally from all.
We can make a big list of the causes for unhappiness in our lives: sickness, money shortages, emotional distress, workflow, unemployment, and so on. Even though there are many such reasons for unhappiness and discontentment, when we take a serious look at calm mindedness, the root cause of all these is expectations, desires, failures, and dependence.
“Remember your good fortune and forget which will not come, this is the secret of happiest life,” said one of the great Kannada poets. Today, there is one or another problem or shortage in everyone’s life. For some, it’s feeling deprived even though they have everything. If the deficiency is complete, we will also not be satisfied. Instead, there is a need for more or new deficits may arise. Happiness or contentment is not restrained on glory money available to us, property, floor, physical equipment or person. Not all the rich are happy. Happiness, peace, contentment, and pleasure cannot be bought on the basis of money. Money is most necessary for life, but not everything. Today in this diverse world, be it the poor or the rich the list of demands in everyone’s lives continues to grow. In life, desires or expectations are like following our own shadow, which we cannot catch. That means we are not satisfied. Contentment is not about pursuing something. Instead, recognise our good fortune and find satisfaction in it.
When we are expecting something from someone, if we do not get it, we feel unhappy. It is not wrong to expect from others. But desires, expectations, and dependence all the time on others will cheat us on time. Then we become more depressed and unhappy. The habit of becoming self-sufficient is better in life.
Stress is very common in today’s competitive life, from the youngest to the oldest. Stress, resentment, and dissatisfaction, a psychotic disorder is rapidly increasingly and common today. In all situations, our minds always expect an appropriate positive response that is right for us. But situations, not all conditions are the same. While walking various steps of our life’s journey we need to cross many stages. When coming with many groups, organisations, contact with people, we need to face a different situation each time. The influence of many people’s nature and culture may affect as positive or negative. Sometimes even if we are right, the situation is the opposite. At such times, our minds drift uncontrollably. As you begin the battle of thoughts in mind, the chain of waste thoughts will start unhindered by one another. This is where the mind starts to get heavier and the psychological pressure begins. Then we are often displeased with the situation or the inferiority of our own selves. Although some people instinctively cross such conditions on the basis of negative sidewalks, it is not reasonable to follow such methods to the minds of good-hearted people.
Such a new situation, which is encountered once a day, we cannot afford to change this whole society of people with their own different natures, cultures at once, but it is only our minds that is in our leverage. We are able to control only our minds. Whatever the conditions or situations, the angle at which we view it must be positive. What matters is how we will be considered and accept it. To control the gallop of the mind’s resolutions, the positive instant answer must be ready immediately in us. When we always have a stock of positive knowledge that is right for our minds, we are able to have a positive outlook on negativity and develop better thinking. This may not be as easy as we think, but it is also not impossible. Although developing such a mentality is difficult in the beginning, gradually it will become normal while constantly practising it.
We should consider this whole creation as a theatre. In this, everyone has their own role. Here, the hero, the villain, the father, the mother, the brother, and the sister all play their own particular role. Here, we need to know ourselves as a hero. Why is the villain evil? That is not a question to ask. He is just as committed to his role. The protagonist (hero) will face more testing conditions. But is it not the villain who wins at the end of the play.
In Bhagavata, it is said that ‘what happened was good, that what is happening is also good and what will happen is also very good’. Although the circumstances are unpleasant for the moment, if we wait and look forward, we feel it will be good. From this positive, virtuous basis, we feel everything is good when viewed from a positive perspective. But there must also be some patience and courage. On the basis of self-contentment, when we satisfy the Lord and by pleasing everyone, it is possible for to us lead a happy and satisfying life.
The author is a spiritual writer and he can be contacted at omscsunil@gmail.com
We can make a big list of the causes for unhappiness in our lives: sickness, money shortages, emotional distress, workflow, unemployment, and so on. Even though there are many such reasons for unhappiness and discontentment, when we take a serious look at calm mindedness, the root cause of all these is expectations, desires, failures, and dependence.