Across world spiritual traditions, contentment refers to a state of inner peace and acceptance. Traditions converge in emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and gratitude in achieving contentment. However, they diverge in their approaches, with some advocating for detachment and others for embracing desires.
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to whom blame and praise are equal, restrained in speech, content with whatever comes, without a fixed home, steady in mind, and full of devotion — that person is dear to me.
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित् | अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नरः ||१२-१९||
ever content, steadfast in yoga, self-controlled, of firm resolve, with mind and understanding devoted to me — that devotee of mine is dear to me.
सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः | मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ||१२-१४||
But for the person who delights only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self, and content in the Self alone, there is nothing that needs to be done.
यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः | आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ||३-१७||
The same in pain and pleasure, self-abiding, regarding a clod, a stone, and gold alike; the same toward the pleasant and the unpleasant, steadfast, the same in blame and praise of himself;
समदुःखसुखः स्वस्थः समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः | तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः ||१४-२४||
'The infinite, the plenum (bhuman), is happiness. There is no happiness in the small; only the infinite is happiness. But one must desire to understand the infinite.' 'Sir, I desire to understand the infinite.'
यो वै भूमा तत्सुखं नाल्पे सुखमस्ति भूमैव सुखं भूमा त्वेव विजिज्ञासितव्य इति भूमानं भगवो विजिज्ञास इति
Om. All this—whatever moves in this moving world—is enveloped by the Lord. Enjoy through renunciation; do not covet, for whose is wealth?
ॐ ईशा वास्यमिदꣳ सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत् । तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम्
Content with whatever comes unsought, beyond the pairs of opposites, free of envy, even-minded in success and failure, such a person, though acting, is not bound.
यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः | समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते ||४-२२||
Having abandoned attachment to the fruits of action, ever content, dependent on nothing, such a person does nothing at all even while fully engaged in action.
त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः | कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः ||४-२०||
Righteousness is the greatest good; forgiveness is the supreme peace; knowledge is the ultimate contentment; and benevolence is the only true happiness.
God told Prophet David, 'The servant dearest to Me is one who doesn't seek Me out of fear or hope for reward, but to fulfill their duty to My divinity.'
One who is content with whatever they receive without effort, free from dualities, without envy, and balanced in success and failure, remains unbound even while acting.
Yogic practices alone are not enough; purification of the heart is essential. Self-reflection is necessary to eliminate faults and bad habits. Correct your flaws, such as selfishness, pride, jealousy, and hatred. Cultivate your heart by sharing with others and engaging in selfless service, which will lead to a pure mind.
We should not be content with just this; instead, we should not rest until this message of truth reaches every home.
Devotion does not mean running away from your duties; instead, fulfilling your responsibilities is true devotion.
Contentment brings us joy and happiness, while dissatisfaction leads to disaster.
O great Goddess! Now hear the method of meditation on the Guru — that which bestows all joy, eternally grants all happiness, and leads to both worldly fulfilment and liberation.
ध्यानं शृणु महादेवि सर्वानन्दप्रदायकम् । सर्वसौख्यकरं नित्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिविधायकम्
Salutations to the Guru, by whose mere remembrance wisdom arises spontaneously within, and who alone is the source of all fulfilment.
यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण ज्ञानमुत्पद्यते स्वयम् । य एव सर्व सम्प्राप्तिस्तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः
'One who meditates on water as Brahman obtains all his desires and becomes fully content, and can move about at will as far as water reaches — such is the reward of one who meditates on water as Brahman.' 'Sir, is there anything greater than water?' 'There is indeed something greater than water.' 'Then please tell it to me, sir.'
स योऽपो ब्रह्मेत्युपास्त आप्नोति सर्वान्कामाꣳस्तृप्तिमान्भवति यावदपां गतं तत्रास्य यथाकामचारो भवति योऽपो ब्रह्मेत्युपास्तेऽस्ति भगवोऽद्भ्यो भूय इत्यद्भ्यो वाव भूयोऽस्तीति तन्मे भगवान्ब्रवीत्विति
'One who meditates on food as Brahman attains worlds abounding in food and drink, and can move about at will as far as food reaches — such is the reward of one who meditates on food as Brahman.' 'Sir, is there anything greater than food?' 'There is indeed something greater than food.' 'Then please tell it to me, sir.'
स योऽन्नं ब्रह्मेत्युपास्तेऽन्नवतो वै स लोकान्पानवतोऽभिसिध्यति यावदन्नस्य गतं तत्रास्य यथाकामचारो भवति योऽन्नं ब्रह्मेत्युपास्तेऽस्ति भगवोऽन्नाद्भूय इत्यन्नाद्वाव भूयोऽस्तीति तन्मे भगवान्ब्रवीत्विति
Whether one receives much or little, or nothing at all, one should always partake of whatever comes with a contented heart and free of craving.
लब्धं वाऽथ न लब्धं वा स्वल्पं वा बहुलं तथा । निष्कामेनैव भोक्तव्यं सदा संतुष्टचेतसा