Befriend Contentment

Contentment sprouts from mindful living. The greatest wealth in life is being content with just minimum things. Contentment becomes most elusive and, ironically, a never-ending search for all of us. In the Bhagwad Gita, Krishn teaches us 'to stay contended, stop being restless and chasing unnecessary things that stick to your life'.

Contentment happens when there is happiness and love in one's heart, and not in the circumstances. One can never be content through fulfilment of desires. A monk asked his students, 'In God's eyes, which is greater - gold or mud?' Some of the students replied, 'Mud and not gold.' 'In God's eyes everything is equal,' the master replied. 'Then why should I drop desires?' asked a student. 'No. Don't drop desires. Instead, make them more sacred,' replied the master.

In the Gita, Arjun asks Krishn, 'Who is a true yogi?' 'The one who finds contentment in the present moment and knows the way of moderation is the greatest yogi.' Krishn did not call a meditator or his devotee a yogi. Instead, He just simplified it. 'If you are content and tranquil, you are a yogi.'


Contentment imparts infinite peace, and develops vivek, vairagya and vichaar - conscience, detachment and ideas. By befriending contentment, we can stay happy and it will put us on the path of tranquillity - always.