Contentment

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

In the Buddhist sense, contentment is the feeling that comes when we know how to appreciate the good points of something, while acknowledging its weak points without falling prey to depression or resentment or jealousy of those who seem to have better.

We appreciate the good points of the things that surround us by stopping and reflecting on them regularly. When we practice this as part of our daily meditation, we experience heartwarming feelings of gratitude.

Contentment does not require, however, closing our minds to problems and inadequacies. It doesn’t mean telling ourselves that everything is okay as it is. It does not shut the door on material improvement. It does give us the emotional maturity to judge to what extent the desired object is truly useful, appropriate, and worth the time, resources and effort needed to acquire it.

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"Food for the Heart", a series of Dhamma teachings handwritten weekly is posted on the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives page with Ajahn's kind permission.

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For other teachings by Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro, please visit the Panyaprateep Foundation website.