I will become lethargic and lazy. On account of my
various ambitions, I move about hither and thither, I exert and I am energetic. Kindly
remove this doubt of mine. I am quite bewildered.
Contentment can never make you idle. It is a Sattvic virtue that propels man towards
God. It gives strength of mind and peace. It checks unnecessary and selfish exertions. It opens
the inner eye of man and moves his mind towards divine contemplation. It turns his energy in
the inner, Sattvic channels. It transmutes the gross energy, viz., greed, that is forcing man
towards selfish exertions into spiritual energy, Ojas. That man who is contented is full of Sattva.
He is more energetic now. He is inward. He has an inner life in the Atman. He is always
peaceful. He turns out more work calmly and with one-pointed mind. All the dissipated rays of
the mind are collected now. Do you understand the point now?
It is on the strength of contentment that the Sadhus and Sannyasins, and the Fakirs and
Bhikshus move about in the world in a care-free manner by living on Bhiksha. It is contentment
that gives strength to an aspirant to walk in the path of Self-realization and emboldens him to
march fearlessly in the rugged and thorny path of spirituality.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

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  • Forget all the explanations. Contentment fills your heart with appreciation and gratitude for finding its place and home. It's never a dull moment, as it engages you with "now". It comes with consciousness, awareness and bliss. But ultimately, it is something that is known by its experience and is not theoretical. It is felt. If it cannot be felt it is by nature absent. But like the light, when it fills a room the darkeness disappears. :) 'nuff said!
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