it is no longer cool to use the word contentment for the simple reason that currently the constantly heard or read words are aspiration acquisition more and growth its time therefore to revisit the meaning of contentmenttrue contentment does not ask us to end aspiration or advancement but asks us to appreciate and enjoy what weve got before we can focus on getting more many after getting something for which they hankered after immediately begin a new search for something different the process never seems to end at times we even forget why we needed something or someone discontent can become an addiction being human says philosopher husserl is a characteristic of a being who faces the question after satisfaction whatthings people and situations do diminish in charm or utility you often feel the need for change it is perhaps not practical to say i am content with my typewriter and have no desire for a computerhowever there seems to be a tendency to be dissatisfied with whatever one has from possessions and relationships to ones city or country is the grass really greener on the other side unlikely an untested belief is that the grass is greener on the other sidethere are two dynamics operating here the locus can be internal the person in general is restless unhappy and dissatisfied or it is triggered by external factors ones discontent is caused by what one sees desires or is tempted by contentment was regarded as a sadhana a spiritual observance its focus being the mobilisation of ones own mechanism of resistance to acquiring intended to help one arrive at a state of needlessness this is not easy even for sages it is helpful to see contentment as a state of being that brings with it a certain measure of wakefulness this creates a sense of comfort with whatever one has at the moment and is a cure for dwelling on what one lacks contentment carries a component of thankfulness when you go to a pharmacy and realise that there are many medicines you can do without you feel grateful for your state of health contentment may be described as a place between boredom and greed between the burdensome and need for the novel in sanskrit contentment is referred to as santosh and better translated as fulfillment distinguished from ashutosh one who gets satisfied easily but perhaps also temporarily contentment looks into the essentials requiring a certain eye that takes time to develop i would go a step ahead and say it is an art in this age of quantity and variety how else could one find protection against the virus of discontent masters across cultures have invited us to observe the beautiful effects of contentment an invaluable asset that helps us find a positive orientation in life everyone cannot be a mahatma we could at least try to find contentment in whatever way we can to know you have enough is to be rich offered laotzu and so