Contentment Part -2 (Teachings to Change lives)

తృప్తి -2

Baba gave 2 suggestions to keep us in the present.   

1) Always be contented. 

2) Fret over nothing and not to worry about things you do not have or cannot get.

What is contentment anyhow?

The soul is complete and this completeness is what we thrive for. But we do not understand this fact or this is beyond our comprehension. But our mind wants to search always for this absolute truth. We always want to acquire more and more.  We keep on searching for this completeness but the place where we are searching is not correct. All these worldly objects cannot give us this completeness that’s why we keep acquiring. Whenever we turn our focus inward in to our own psyche then we will find the answers. We can then enjoy the world better.

Do we need to get rid of all these worldly objects?

Do we stop doing daily Karma (life’s duties) so that we won’t suffer? 

As long as we have mind and body, we cannot escape performing these karmas.   Then what is the solution?  

We have a body and this body has needs. If we can learn to use the resources of nature to the extent that we need and we are not greedy, we can experience this great feeling of contentment. Once we experience this enjoyment there is no going back. This does not mean that we need to stop working or stop achieving great things in life.  Whatever we reap we are entitled to be blessed with. But the greed always comes into picture and makes us suffer. 

That’s why Baba gave the second principle “Fret over nothing and not to worry about things you do not have or cannot get”. If greed consumes us, then the feeling of contentment is gone.  Without understanding the truth about the completeness and mind constantly running after worldly objects, we can forget about peace.  So we need to hold onto the objects that have this completeness. But all these worldly objects do not have this quality. The happiness we derive from these worldly objects is not permanent.  Only thing that

is permanent is the absolute (Paramatma- Supreme God). This consciousness is allover and ever present. This universal energy is present in every animate and inanimate object. We have this inside us as the SOUL. This makes us breath, think and perform every act of life. Without which there is no existence. But we cannot experience this truth and bliss without some effort. Our scriptures showed us the ways to achieve this.

We can accumulate so much wealth for generations. Is it giving us this kind of permanent happiness? 
The reason is body can enjoy only what it can enjoy. For a body to survive the actual needs are not that many.  Say someone likes a sweet and we keep on giving them that sweet. After eating few pieces, the mind and body will say that’s enough. If the sweet is what makes us happy it should cause that happiness always. But that is not the case. Sometimes mind wants more but body cannot accommodate. When that favorite object becomes too much, we say enough! We need to understand the limitations of human life then only we can stay in the present. By doing so, we can bring this feeling of contentment in to experience slowly. 

Baba taught this feeling of contentment through a maid to Dasganu. He made him experience this when he wanted to write commentary on one of the scriptures (Esavasyopanishad). Once dasganu writes a commentary on Esavasyopanishad but could not derive the meaning or crux of the scripture. Baba then tells him that he can learn the meaning of this through a maid at Kakasaheb Dixit’s house. What did he learn from her?

She was seen singing about a beautiful saree (Indian traditional dress) even when she was wearing some rags. Then Dasganu through Mr. Pradhan presented her a new saree. She came next day wearing that new saree and played with household with same happiness. Next day she comes with her old rag and she was as happy as before. No signs of despair in her expression.   She showed same happiness throughout. This is what Upanishad says “ Tena Tyakthena Bhunjidha”  “Enjoy by renouncing” .

Scriptures say that this creation has everything that is necessary for life. We need to use only our share but not indulge. Then everyone can get their share. But some people want to acquire everything around them either legally or illegally. This happens every day and we get caught up in this cycle. We need to understand the nature and limitations that we have. We cannot take anything with us when we die, forget about all the stuff we acquired. If we understand this truth and the reality of life that is death, we can enjoy the present and whatever we have. This is real contentment and this will lead us to the Paramatma (Supreme God).

OM SAI RAM!