CONTENTMENT/ਸੰਤੋਖ

ABSTRACT

It is a sense of gratification, satisfaction, and pleasure with gratitude but its presence is rarely seen. It is seldom achieved, for we never have enough, things we have; never satisfy us, and the desire to have more never ends. Before a desire has fulfilled another one already on the way. This is the consequence of worldly thinking. It reflects a state of mind in which one's desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be.

ਬਿਨਾ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਊ ਰਾਜੈ ॥

ਸਪੁਨ ਮਨੋਰਥ ਬਿ੍ਥੇ ਸਭ ਕਾਜੈ ॥

Binā sanṯokẖ nahī ko­ū rājai. Supan manorath barithė sabẖ kājai.

Without contentment, no one is satisfied. Like the objects in a dream, all his efforts are in vain.-----

Guru Arjun, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 279-2

                                   
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It is second of the five Sikh virtues after truth and is not easy to develop. It is defined as a state of mind of happiness with total satisfaction in one’s condition and situation in life in the present. It is the opposite of envy, avarice, ambition, and anxiety, arising from an inward disposition. It is the offspring of our own sense of unworthiness. Patience is the key to contentment. Guru Nanak, Bible,  Mohammad, Socrates, and Buddha, reflect on it:

ਮੁੰਦਾ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਸਰਮੁ ਪਤੁ ਝੋਲੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਕੀ ਕਰਹਿ ਬਿਭੂਤਿ ॥

Munḏa sanṯokẖ saram paṯ jẖolī ḏẖi­ān kī karahi bibẖūṯ.

Make contentment your ear-rings, humility your begging bowl and meditation the ashes you apply to your body.-----Guru Nanak, Japji, AGGS, Page, 6

I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Bible, [Philippians 4:11]

Seek help through patient perseverance and prayers.-----Quran, Surah-2:45

He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.-----Socrates

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.-----Buddha

Being self-content means accepting and acknowledging who you are in your inner core and being comfortable with it.  Satisfaction does not require perfection in all areas of your life. When you learn to better understand, better appreciate and eventually love yourself, you exude a quiet confidence that will open doors to what you want in life dispelling any doubts what so ever.

ਨਿਹਚਲ ਮਹਲੁ ਨਹੀ ਛਾਇਆ ਮਾਇਆ ॥

ਸਾਚਿ ਸੰਤੋਖੇ ਭਰਮੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ॥
Nihcẖal mahal nahī cẖẖā­i­ā mā­i­ā. Sācẖ sanṯokẖė bẖaram cẖukā­i­ā.

God’s Mansion is eternal and unchanging; it is not a mere reflection of Maya. Through truth and contentment, doubt is dispelled.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 228-2

ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣੁ ਜੋ ਬਿੰਦੈ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ॥

ਜਪੁ ਤਪੁ ਸੰਜਮ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਕਰਮ ॥

ਸੀਲ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਕਾ ਰਖੈ ਧਰਮ ॥

ਬੰਧਨ ਤੋੜੈ ਹੋਵੈ ਮੁਕਤੁ ॥

ਸੋਈ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣੁ ਪੂਜਣ ਜੁਗਤੁ ॥

So barahmaṇ jo binḏai barahm. Jap ṯap sanjam kamāvai karam. Sīl sanṯokẖ kā rakẖai ḏẖaram. Banḏẖan ṯoṛai hovai mukaṯ. So­ī barahmaṇ pūjaṇ jugaṯ.

The true Brahmin is one, who has realized the True God and performs meditation, penance leading a disciplined life. Such a Brahmin deserves all praise and is worthy of respect, who has developed the peace of mind and contentment, thus attaining salvation having overcome all bondage of worldly falsehood.-----Guru Nanak, Sloke Varan To Vadheek, AGGS, Page, 1411

One way to develop a strong sense of self-contentment is to give yourself the gift of self-appreciation. Offer yourself the same respect and kindness you give to the others you care deeply for. In doing so, you will feel more at peace with yourself, be strong in your convictions and easily stand up for yourself.

Ways to support you in becoming more confident:

1.      Silence your inner critic by intentionally unlearning this behavior.

2.      Surround yourself with a positive environment. Enrich your life through spiritual education and inspiration that imparts both emotional and physical health.

3.      Acknowledge your achievements by accepting the fact that someone else helped you in reaching your goals.

4.      Control ten sensory pleasures (ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀ).

ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀ ਪੰਚ ਪੰਚੇ ਵਸਿ ਆਣੈ ਖਿਮਾ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਪਾਵੈ ॥

ਸੋ ਧਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਜਨੁ ਵਡ ਪੂਰਾ ਜੋ ਭੈ ਬੈਰਾਗਿ ਹਰਿ ਗਣ ਗਾਵੈ  ॥੩॥
Inḏrī pancẖ pancẖė vas āṇai kẖimā sanṯokẖ gurmaṯ pāvai. So ḏẖan ḏẖan har jan vad pūrā jo bẖai bairāg har guṇ gāvai. |

Whoever overpowers the five sense organs is blessed with forgiveness, patience, and contentment, through the Guru's Teachings. Blessed, blessed, perfect and great is that humble servant of the God, who is inspired by the Fear of God and detached love, to sing the Glorious Praises of God. -----Guru Amar Das, Raag Parbhati, AGGS, Page, 1334-16

Contentment is accepting reality with a positive attitude. Our attitude tells the world what we expect in return.  If it's a cheerful and expectant attitude, it says to everyone with whom we come in contact that we expect the best in our dealings with the world.  We do tend to live up to our own expectations. Our attitude is something that we can control. We can establish our attitude each morning when we start our day -- in fact, we do just that, whether or not we realize it or intend it.  And the members in our family and the people in our world will reflect us the attitude we present to them.  Hence it is our attitude toward life that determines life's attitude toward us.  Everything we say or do, and the accompanying attitude impacts our life.  If we're cheerful, glad to be experiencing this miracle of life, others will reflect that good cheer back to us.  We become the kind of people others enjoy being around with.  This is possible by living according to the principles contained in AGGS.

ਪੂਰਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਪੂਰਾ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ॥

ਪੂਰਾ ਤਪੁ ਪੂਰਨ ਰਾਜੁ ਜੋਗੁ ॥

Pūrā sukẖ pūrā sanṯokẖ. Pūrā ṯap pūran rāj jog.

Once the mind rests in peace, one feels perfect bliss of life, with perfect contentment and patience, and the worship is considered perfect.-----Guru Arjun, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 279-2

Conclusion:

In life, one cannot get what one likes all the time, so one must learn to like what one gets. It is not the circumstances that create discontent or contentment but our desires are the root cause. Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have. The secret of contentment is to know how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach. Contentment makes a poor man rich; discontentment makes the rich poor. Guru Arjun in Mundavani and Bhai Gurdas in His Vaar 19 reflect on four cardinals in Sikh thought:

ਥਾਲ ਵਿਚਿ ਤਿੰਨਿ ਵਸਤੂ ਪਈਓ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੋ ॥

ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕਾ ਪਇਓ ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਸਭਸੁ ਅਧਾਰੋ ॥

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਖਾਵੈ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਭੁੰਚੈ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਹੋਇ ਉਧਾਰੋ  ॥

ਏਹ ਵਸਤੁ ਤਜੀ ਨਹ ਜਾਈ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਰਖੁ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰੋ  ॥

ਤਮ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ਚਰਨ ਲਗਿ ਤਰੀਐ ਸਭੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪਸਾਰੋ  ॥੧॥

Thāl vicẖ ṯinn vasṯū pa­ī­o saṯ sanṯokẖ vīcẖāro. Amriṯ nām ṯẖākur kā pa­i­o jis kā sabẖas aḏẖāro. Je ko kẖāvai je ko bẖuncẖai ṯis kā ho▫e uḏẖāro. Ėh vasaṯ ṯajī nah jā▫ī niṯ niṯ rakẖ ur ḏẖāro. Ŧam sansār cẖaran lag ṯarī▫ai sabẖ Nānak barahm pasāro. 

Upon this Plate, three things have been placed: Truth, Contentment, and Contemplation. The Ambrosial Nectar of the Naam, the Name of our God and Master, has been placed upon it as well; it is the Support of all.-----Guru Arjun, Mundavani, AGGS, Page, 1429 -12   

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਇ  ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ।
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਤਿ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਸਹਿਜ ਸਮਾਣਿਆ ।
Gurmukh Apu Gavai Apu Pachania, Gurmukh Sato Santokh Sahaj Samania.

Guru oriented losing his ego identifies his self and enters his innate nature through truth and contentment.-----Bhai Gurdas, Vaar 19, Pauri, 13-1, 2