Contentment is a rare gem which is difficult to find in today’s world of endless desires, extensive opportunities and a vast array of objects of desire. The more we work to fulfil our desires, the more objects we collect or wish to collect and the more property we stand to lose. We spend a great deal of time in protecting our assets from natural dangers, theft and robbery. In the meantime, driven by competition, jealousy and need to be superior to others, we work at acquiring more and more assets. There is no peace in our lives and there is definitely no contentment.
Many people do not have anything and are forced to be content with what they have. This is not contentment, it is compromise. To have things in abundance and not be attached to them and be balanced under all conditions is being truly content. When we learn to be content before losing everything, then there would be no need to lose things to learn this truly important lesson. When we are content, no one can steal anything from us. Our belongings can be stolen or seized from us but not our contentment. Our inner balance and peace cannot be disturbed. We are always in equilibrium. The story of the Guru and his disciple given below teach us a very important lesson about contentment:
A Guru and his disciple were travelling since many months. They went from village to village and sang the praises of God and spoke of His greatness. People gathered around them to hear and learn about God and praise God along with them. But now the rainy season was setting in and travelling was difficult. So the Guru and his disciple were returning back to their hut. A storm was blowing and rain was fast approaching. As they reached their hut, they saw the wind carry away half of the roof. It was a small hut and now it had only half a roof and the dark clouds were still there in the skies and the wind was blowing strongly.
The Guru and disciple had no choice but to stay put in their home. The storm has still not blown away and the nearest village was far away. The disciple could not contain his anger and frustration any more. He burst out: We spent the last eight months singing the name of God and telling all His Glories. See what He gives us in return! Sinners sleep well at home in their comfortable warm beds and sadhus like us have their roof torn off from their huts. Is this how God rewards us? Is this storm also not sent by Him? There is no justice in this world!
Then the disciple turned around to see what his Guru was doing. His Guru was kneeling with folded hands and looking up at the sky with tears of joy in his eyes. There was peace and supreme contentment in his face. He was singing in ecstasy: O Lord, you are very compassionate. The winds could have blow away the entire roof and also the hut. But You stopped it. You have left us with half a roof. We still have a place to sleep in comfort while the storm rages around us! Only You, my Divine Father can be so loving and thoughtful to His children! There was a world of difference in the approach and attitude of the Guru and his disciple. They entered the same hut. They both slept there. The Guru slept soundly and in great peace. The disciple kept tossing and turning. He grumbled and complained constantly about the blowing wind. He had no sleep despite being physically tired out from the long walk to his home in the storm.
The Guru woke up at brahmamuhurta (predawn time). It was cool and beautiful. The wind has dropped and the rains had stopped. The skies were clear. The moon sailed majestically through the clouds lighting up the skies with a cool brilliance. The sight moved him very much and he sang in praise of God: O God, if I had known of the beauty of the skies and the moon, I would have myself ripped off the roof to enjoy it. There would have been no need for You to rip off the roof to show the me the beauties of the skies and the moon. When we can sing like this under difficult circumstances, we are truly content and have the right approach to life
Contentment comes only when we are able to give up our vices and live in love, gratitude and surrender to God. Let us earn this rare quality by practicing the SitaRam Mantra, meditation and teachings of the Guru. In this world of endless desires and even more greater variety of products, contentment is a shining gem which is difficult to acquire but not impossible. Let us work for it and acquire it.
