by Swami Ramananda

Contentment is a deceptively simple concept that offers tremendous benefit if we fully embrace its practice.

Sensory pleasures give rise to countless desires, none of which bring lasting satisfaction. Instead, they all reinforce the prevailing messages of our culture telling us that something pleasurable is a means to happiness.  Thus, the present moment is continually warped by anticipation over the next thing to do or get, and is never enough as it is.

Contentment, referred to as Santosha in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, is not so easy to master because the habit of wanting and achieving is so deeply ingrained in us.  It does not mean that we give up having goals and striving for them, or give up enjoying sensory experiences.

Contentment does mean that we are at peace with what we have now and with ourselves as we are, even as we strive to learn and grow.  It does mean that we can enjoy the process of pursuing our goals, giving ourselves fully to them, without fear of failure.

I really like this idea but I struggle to practice it when my to-do list gets too big for my comfort, or when some challenging issue remains unresolved.  At such times, I can’t seem to help feeling that I’ll be happier after I finish a project or after this issue is resolved.  I find myself pushing my limits, working longer hours, ignoring my resolves for getting exercise and enough sleep, and or doing everything with a simmering stew of anxiety on the back-burner of my mind.

It has really helped me to make a conscious effort to practice contentment.  One way is to start my day, after my morning meditation, affirming that my essential nature is joy, and this joy is independent of anything that happens.  It feels really good to assert this truth and really try to feel it, reminding my mind that nothing can make me happy or sad.

I encourage everyone to use this month to experiment with contentment by pausing and reflecting, “Can I be at peace with this moment as it is?”  “Do I really have to have ____________ before I can be happy?”

This will certainly be challenging in some situations, but when we do succeed to feel for ourselves moments of a natural inner contentment, we’ll be inspired to keep practicing.  The more we learn to stay in touch with this innate peace, the more our lives will become a joyful balancing act, riding the waves of change.

You can join Swami Ramananda, Diana Meltsner and Eric Gustafson Cultivating Compassion and Forgiveness, 7-day Meditation & Raja Yoga, ONLINE, Mon.- Sun., October 14-20, 7:15 am – 8:00 am PDT

Or Deepen your in your own practice and guide your students to go deeper in theirs by joining Swami Ramananda, Diana Meltsner, and guest teacher Rich Panico M.D., for Meditation Teacher Training – ONLINE, NOV 14–DEC 19, 2024 & JAN 7–FEB 4, 2025

Swami Ramananda C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life, and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.

He leads all levels of Yoga teacher trainings and programs around the globe. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program and has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings. He a founding board member of Yoga Alliance and is a co-founder of The Spiritual Action Initiative which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.