Contentment brings peace of mind

There is one quality that is sadly missing in most human beings. We are never satisfied with what we have acquired or possessed. We crave for more. There is no peace of mind with the desire to have more of material possessions and sensory pleasures.. It is however not possible to satiate our desires because as soon as one is fulfilled, another springs up in the mind. There is no end to the craving till the last breath of our life. This is the reason why contentment is prescribed as an essential quality for a spiritual aspirant. But we waste our valuable time and health in the pursuit of ephemeral things that will not bring lasting peace or take us nearer the Ultimate. We should assiduously develop the quality of contentment and learn to be satisfied with our lot in life if we wish to avoid the cycle of births and deaths. If we are satisfied with whatever comes our way then we will not fall prey to temptations. It is this trait that will lead us towards liberation from bondage.
Let us remember that contentment isn’t a matter with being content with your situation in life and never trying to improve it. It’s a matter of being content with what you have — but realizing that as humans, we will always try to improve, no matter how happy we are. If we don’t, we have given up on life. Peace is not merely being self satisfied. Being passive and self centred is not desirable. This state should be overcome by service to the needy and hapless in whatever manner possible. Service to suffering is service to God.
Contentment means: to be at home with what we already have and realizing that contentment comes from within and not found from outside. In sum, contentment means reducing our wants, leading a happy contented life, avoiding unnecessary worries, being mentally detached, living simply and sharing with others whatever we have.
We should constantly affirm our contentment mentally and verbally with the words
”Through life's mightiest storms, I am contented, for I hold in my heart God's peace. Lord, as You live eternally at rest in Yourself, so let me live also, contented ever, that I may be worthy of living in Your joy.”



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