Throughout human civilization, it has been said that the key to happiness is ‘contentment’. And yet hardly anyone believes in this maxim today. Modern management schools go to the extent of preaching the virtue of having some stress called ‘good stress’ for progress. They argue if you are satisfied with what you already have then why to work for progress. Most of the current young generation agree. They feel that their present unhappiness is the fire that keeps them going. In the field of material pursuit, it appears logical too. But, is the progress all about amassing material wealth, earning name, fame, and power? If it were so, why did many of those who achieved all of this also died unsatisfied and unhappy? We need to properly understand certain laws of life.
There is a place and purpose for every atom in the universe. Everyone is born with some unique talent which must fully manifest itself in one’s lifetime. Those, whose unique talents flowered in their lifetime, lived a meaningful life and died with smiles on their lips. Material success for them was incidental not intentional. Contentment is not about what you have. It is about your mental attitude towards what you have. World is like a newspaper catering to everyone’s tastes. We should use the world’s resources like the newspaper readers who read only what interests them. No reader imitates the taste of other readers. Hence, all readers are content with what they read from the same newspaper. But, in life, we are often found imitating others, disregarding our own deepest interest and natural urges. This is how we lose our grip over contentment. We must realise that nature provides for all that we need at any given time to manifest our hidden unique talents. However, we build our list of complaints by focusing on what we need to imitate others. A complaining mind can never rest in peace and never perform a perfect action. An imperfect action can never guarantee success. Frustration and more complaints naturally result from such failures. We are ultimately caught-up in the vicious circle of chasing happiness through a restless mind. Contentment, therefore, is the greatest virtue for mankind. It is abundantly clear in the nature. Every flower is happily busy in spreading its own unique fragrance. Every bird is happily singing in its own unique tone.
4 comments:
We all seek contentment, but the question is where does one draw the line. Mahatma Gandhi said, "become the change you want others to be" His lived his life like that. Today Nanaji Deshmukh has dies at ninety-four years. He gave up politics at the age of sixty and took on the task of transforming fifty villages in the interior in line with his beliefs. He gave up a lot , and still are content. Others strive for more are not content. Some do not really need more but do not have the moral courage to give up accumulating wealth and all that comes with it. They do not give up anything. Most businessmen, and some professionals come in this category. Ofcourse they give all sorts of excuses for not giving up after a certain period. So you see the world is like that. What you have done is to light a candle in the dark. May its' glow spread.
Best wishes
Sorry, I don't agree with you on this point. Human endeavour is inherently to achieve greater and better form (the evolution or the origin of species, the survival of the fittest etc). We have evolved over the years from apes to present form. As for contentment, the more mature a person, the more he realises what is capable of or or not capable of.
By contentment, I don't mean complacency. Complacency makes people idle, as they live in what is called a pig's contentment. Being oblivious of their unique potential and natural urges, such people run away from life's struggle and pretend to be content. They are in direct contrast to those who want to achieve everything in the world at any cost and who are perpetually in stress. On the other hand, a contented mind has abundance of energy to realise its unique potential. Any progress anywhere made in the history is by such contented minds. A content person, in my opinion, is most active as he lives lightly without any mental baggage. As for evolution from ape to human, it is still a theory and hence debatable.
Raj, Very well said. Your writing should make those people who are in the rat race, take a pause and think carefully. Best wishes. Debasis
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