Contentment Vs Discontentment

In Spiritual Realm, Gurus normally talk about the concept of Surrender to Divine, Contentment and feeling Satisfied with whatever we already have in life. These concepts look great in listening and speaking but when it comes to practically applying these concepts in life then human mind creates lot of reluctance.

As our basic human mind is always on the materialistic and ambitious drive, it doesn’t feel aligned with the concept of surrender or contentment. Not only the basic human mind but if you go on digging deep to all the so-called Spiritual Gurus too then even they won’t be able to respond you perfectly as to what it means to be feeling Satisfied with whatever we already have in life. Does it mean that now we need not to look for improving in life? If it is so then how will we grow and improve in our lives if the basic desire of improving is not there?

Let’s face it that if we apply the concept of contentment and being satisfied as is then a beggar might remain a beggar and therefore a poor society might stay as a poor society? And how this concept of contentment is different from concept of laziness. If I am content and satisfied with whatever I have and if I have no desire to improve my life then why will I feel motivated or inspired in my life to do something better?

If we consider these logics and questions then concept of contentment “looks like” no different than a slow-moving suicide and concept of discontentment “looks like” the only way of improvement in life. And as I said, our so-called Spiritual Gurus are also unable to decode this mystery. They will keep on telling you to be happy with whatever you already have in life.

Osho talks about it in Tao Upanishad which is his preaching on the teachings of Lao Tse and His book Tao Te Ching.

Osho says that there are two ways of living life; i.e. either to accept your situation as is or be in complaining mode regarding your situations in life. Again, either to be happy and grateful about what you have in life or to always complain about what you don’t have in life.

What will be difference in end result?

Osho says that this whole world is nothing but manifestation or work of energy and energy is always conscious and moving. It will function in one or the other direction.

Now, if someone accepts his situations in life then his energy starts functioning in positive direction in creating something new in life and his life starts improving. Even if a beggar accepts his situation as is then he cannot remain a beggar for a long time as he will start utilizing his energy in positive and creative pursuits. Sooner or later these actions will start giving him results and he will come out from his situation. Again, if he accepts his situation in life as is then he will continue to use energy positively and his life will keep on growing and improving.

Understanding this will be easier from polar opposite example. Now, suppose there is another person who is discontent and unsatisfied about his situations in life. He is unhappy over where he stands in life. Then a basic trait of complaining mind is to blame others or circumstances of life for situations it is in right now. Now, the energy which this person has will be wasted in complaining about others in life or situations in life or fighting against such people/situations. So now, the energy which could have been utilized in positive direction for improvement in life will be wasted in complaining and fighting with others.

I hope this clears a lot. Accepting your situation doesn’t mean that life will not improve or grow or you will not work towards improvement in life, it simply means that you don’t waste your time and energy in fighting with others and you focus on self. Osho always says to his disciples to focus on Self and Be Selfish so that person can improve his life.

Here, I can give couple of examples from my life. These two people correspond with these two different ways of living respectively and by looking at the trajectory of their lives we can see how accurately this concept works in life.

First example is of X person. He had multiple changes in his career. He lost his father and around same time, he was in debts and among all types of financial/personal/professional/health crises in family. We can say almost a beggar-like situation in life. The day this person accepted his situation in life then rather than complaining about it focus shifted to improve the situation. He started looking for a better job. He got a better job. After a few years started his own business and right now, doing quite well in his life, especially if you compare it with his earlier situations in life.
So, accepting his situation as is helped his energy to get free from complaining mode and it moved in right directions and things improved in life.

Then there is a Y person who is a friend of mine. His situation right now is much better than the situation in which X person was. Y person has an own house property, almost no financial responsibility and supportive family members. Only thing Y person needs to look after is like settling in a career. But I have found this Y person always in complaining mode and it is always someone else or something else is responsible for his situation in life.

Now, what will happen if we keep this attitude in life? Our energy will go wasted in complaining, cursing and fighting with people and situations in life. So, the energy which could/would have been utilized in improving life is now utilized in destructive manner and the end result is that Y person’s life has only gone downhill in last 10-15 years.

I hope these 2 examples demonstrate well enough as to what I wanted to convey here.

Acceptance, Contentment, Satisfaction or Gratitude is important in life so that energy can get free from complaining, fighting & cursing and could be better utilized in positive pursuits.

Gratitude!!!!