Finding contentment

A discontented person wastes time complaining and speaking rudely to others.

This is an important thought. It should be made strong in our awareness; otherwise, a person filled with such wasteful thoughts keeps wasting time and energy in complaints and criticism, and gradually loses their inner power.

Let us explore some effective ways to handle situations that create discontentment, so that we can strengthen our determination to remain content, even in challenging circumstances. The people we come into daily contact with may often become a source of discontent for us because of their behaviour and sanskars (deep-rooted tendencies). Suppose someone does not do their work properly, does not follow the timetable, forgets important things, or repeatedly ignores instructions even after being told many times.

 

We may notice many such weaknesses in them that create problems for us. As a result, we begin to feel a surge of discontentment.

By remaining discontented with that person again and again, we start developing feelings of hatred towards them, irritation in our behaviour, and a noticeable decline in our happiness. We keep trying to correct that person, but they do not change. When we see no improvement in the situation, our inner disturbance only grows stronger. What should we do in such a situation?

How can we remain content when someone’s behaviour does not match ours?

We need to remember that this world is a vast game of differences. Humanity is like a huge tree with many branches, leaves, and fruits—each one unique. People are also like that: everyone has a different nature and different sanskars. In this present age, which is spiritually degraded, most people are acting under the influence of impure sanskars.

If we understand that someone is strongly bound by their sanskars, then there will be no violent storm in our mind when they act according to those tendencies. The person we are trying so hard to change is not able to change easily because their sanskars have become very powerful. At the same time, we, too, have the sanskar of becoming discontented, because of which we keep getting disturbed by them. Instead of insisting that they must change, why don’t we first give up our own habit of getting upset?

We should ask ourselves: “Don’t I also have certain sanskars that I am not able to change quickly or easily, and yet I continue to act according to them?”

 

If we keep this in mind while looking at others, we will not feel so frustrated. We will understand that it is currently the kingdom of Maya; many people’s intellects have become confused and deluded. It will naturally take time for such habits to change.

If I am not able to transform my own sanskars easily, then why should I become so worried and disturbed about someone else’s sanskars? Instead of losing my happiness by becoming discontented with that person, I should try to donate virtues to them and behave politely and compassionately.

However, when we let go of the “weapons” of spiritual knowledge and inner power, we are quickly attacked by discontentment and begin to feel like victims. The solution lies in stabilising ourselves in knowledge, patience, and understanding—so that, despite differences in others’ behaviour, we can remain peaceful, content, and loving.