Contentment is one of the four gateways to liberation
according to the Yoga Vasistha; the supreme yoga. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing to not be worried about
what is around the corner, to not be worried about what the future holds, but
to just have that warm smile from within in contentment of any situation, ready
to flow with the river to wherever it may take you. To not need to quench the thirst of our senses and sense
pleasures but just be able to sit in good and wise company and simply be
content. Here is what the Yoga
Vasistha says, an ancient scripture that can answer all the questions that
arise from the human mind. It is a
dialogue between the Sage Vasistha and a young Lord Rama who has fallen into a
depression, it has been a favourite scripture of spiritual seekers over the
past few centuries and has a real rational and accessible approach of Vedanta
philosophy, so enjoy -
“Contentment is another gate-keeper to
liberation. He who has quaffed the
nectar of contentment does not relish craving for sense-pleasures: no delight
in this world is as sweet as contentment.
What is contentment? To renounce all craving for what is not obtained un-sought
and satisfied with what comes unsought, without being elated or depressed even
by them - this is
contentment. As long as one is not
satisfied in the self, he will be subjected to sorrow. With the rise of contentment the purity
of one’s heart blooms. The
contented man who possesses nothing owns the world.”
It goes on to tell us that as well as contentment
that also self-control, enquiry and keeping company of the good and wise are
also gateways to liberation. It is
very hard to just be content the same as it is very hard to just stop being sad
if you are sad, but through our practice we can find the answers, through the
practice of just one of these gate-keepers then the other 3 will follow, but it
has to be through our own self effort.
The highest wisdom will then seek you of its own accord, it explains
that until you can tame the wild elephant we call the mind through these 4
practices of contentment, wise company, self enquiry and self control there can
be little or no progress towards the supreme goal, to free ourselves, therefore
we must practice!
So let us smile from within in contentment of our
beings, sit in your own love and light, beautiful people will want to be with
you when you yourself are content and have calmed all wants of this and
that. Be satisfied in the fact you
have this wonderful human life where you can discover yourself, that is enough
to be contented with isn’t it?
Om Lokha Somastha Sukhino Bhavantu
May you all find peace, balance and happiness
Om Shanti Shanti Shantih
Peace peace and perfect peace
Mangala / Nicky
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