One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing how poor people live. They spend a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be on their return from their trip. The father asked his son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad.” “Did you see how poor people live? The father asked. “Oh yeah,” said the son. “So, tell me, what you learned from the trip?” asked the father.
The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they have four. We have a pool that reached to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have field that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.” The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added: “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are?” (Source: Unknown)
Is it not perspective a wonderful thing that makes you wonder what would happen if we all give thanks for everything that we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have. Is it not better to be content but poor, or rich with craving and attachment?
A Buddhist Perspective
Contentment is the ability to be happy and fulfilled in one’s present state. The Buddha said that contentment is the highest wealth (Dhp.204), meaning that when we are content we do not need to get anything, go anywhere or be anything to be happy, because we already are, and thus, contentment is more valuable than any possession or accomplishment. The Buddha then describes a monk’s contentment as he is satisfied with a robe to cover his body and alms food to satisfy his stomach and having accepted no more that is sufficient he goes his way, just like a bird flies here and there taking with it no more than its wings. [(DN.l,71); (MN.l,180)]
The Buddha often emphasised contentment as the highest treasure when a monk is content with any kind of robes, alms food, lodgings, medicines and provision for the sick. This Dhamma is for one who is content, not for one who is discontent, (AN.Vlll,30.10.2) is a principle of cordiality that creates ,affection and respect and conduces to cohesiveness to unity. (AN.X.50.10.8) Monks while going on alms round mindfully observe noble silence not to engage in talking or chatting or to endear themselves to the lay followers with the intention of improving their intake during alms rounds, not to ask for anything directly except in an emergency, not to express thanks for donations received, and to receive without establishing eye contact. Then again, monks content with any sort of alms-food and speak in praise of such content. For the sake of getting alms-food he resorts not to what is unseemly and unbecoming. If he gets not alms-food he is not dismayed and if he does get it he is free from the bond of selfishness, of greed, of craving for it. (AN.IV,III,28(2))
They observed strict meal time and do not eat after noon and two meals a day without dinner. This allows them to have time to practice as they consume food neither for amusement nor for intoxication nor for the sake of physical beauty and attractiveness, but only for the support and maintenance of the body, for avoiding harm, and for assisting the spiritual life. (AN.4.159) The Buddha himself proclaimed that: “I, monks, do not eat a meal at night in the evening and thus I am free from illness and affliction and enjoy health, strength and ease.” (M.l,473)
The commentary elaborates: “In this body, which exists in dependence on requisites, I shall, by moderate eating, have health called ‘long endurance’ since there will be no danger severing the life faculty or interrupting the (continuity of the) postures.” Reflecting in this way, he makes use (of alms food) as sufferer from chronic disease does of his medicine.”(Vism.1.94). In order to stay in good health Lord Buddha maintained the stance.
How does one live in contentment?
When food is consumed for survival we always take delight in food, both devas and human beings. So what sort of spirit could it be that does not take delight in food? (SN.1.43) However, we remained mindful and consumed food in moderation reflecting carefully as we consume food neither for amusement nor for intoxication for the sake of physical beauty and attractiveness, but only for the support and maintenance of the body to practise avoiding harm and for assisting the spiritual life. (AN 4:159) More importantly, moderate eating is also a healthy habit to cultivate as, when a man is always mindful, knowing moderation in the food he eats, his aliments then diminish; he ages slowly, guarding his life. (AN.1,402).
The story of King Pasenda of Kosala
Once King Pasedana of Kosala, went to the Jetavana monastery after having his full morning meal. It was said that the king had eaten one quarter basket (about half a bush) of rice with meat curry. So while listening to the Buddha’s discourse he felt very sleepy and was nodding most of the time. Seeing him nodding, the Buddha advised him to take a little less rice every day and to decrease the amount on a sliding scale to the minimum of one-sixteenth part of the original amount he was taking. The king did as he was told and found that by eating less he became thin, but he felt very much lighter and enjoyed much better health. When he told the Buddha about this, the Buddha said to him “O king, health is a great boon; contentment is a greatest wealth; a closed and trusted friend is the best relative; Nibbana is the greatest bliss.” (Dhp. 204)
When one has no self-control as regards the stomach will destroy living creatures, take possession of what has not be given to him, be unchaste, speak lies, drink strong drink, put his mother or his father to death, slay an Arahat, create a schism in the Order, even with malice aforethought wound a Tathagata. Was it not when without restraint to his stomach that Devadatta by breaking up the Order heaped up for himself karma that would endure for a kalpa? (Mil.IV.5.4)
Needless to say, here are benefits of being content like having goodfriends when need arises, good is contentment with just what one has, good is merit done well, when life is at the end. Good is the elimination of all suffering. (Dhp. 331) Living in solitude is happiness for one who is content, who has heard and clearly understands The Dhamma. (Ud.10)
In meditative practice, contentment is one of the five ascetic practices that lead to ascetic state that go with the volition of an ascetic practice, that is to say, fewness of wishes, contentment, effacement, seclusion, and that specific quality, … … herein, fewness of wishes and contentment are non-greed. Effacement and seclusion belong to the two states, non- greed and non-delusion. That specific quality is knowledge. (Vism. II 83 & 84)
Conclusion
As an ethical virtue the benefit of contentment in our day to day life is quite obvious. Absent of contentment leads to the arising of many defilements such as jealousy, hatred, pride, hypocrisy and various vices. A discontented man is always impatient. He is a grumbler everywhere. Even if he were to obtain the whole world, he would not be happy. This desire may take many forms such as desire for money and material gains, for fame and supremacy and so on. Whatever form it would take, such a person is a danger to himself as well as to others. Any kind of craving be it desire for political power or desire for material gains, when taken to extreme is bound to bring about serious consequences for the community at large.
Now, a question might arise whether this kind of contentment means leading to a life of inactivity, lethargy and complacency? In answer to this it can be pointed out that the Buddha’s teaching never encourage that kind of inactivity or resignation to one’s fate. Buddhism is a teaching that encourages true living, a life of true activity as Gotama himself led. In explaining and practising contentment Buddhist texts very often praise a monk who is content with the four requisites of his life, viz, robe, food, lodgings and medicaments. It is obvious that these are the four basic necessities of one’s life. This also applies to a layman. (Encyclopaedia of Buddhism)
Therefore be capable, upright, and straight, easy to instruct, gentle, and not proud, content and easy to support with little, with few duties, living simply and lightly, with peaceful abilities, mastering all, modest, and with no greed for support. Do not do even a minor thing that the wise and noble would later criticize. (Sn.144)`
Is it not a blessing to live a peaceful life happily in content? “Happily indeed we live, content amidst the greedy. Amidst those who are greedy, we live in contentment.” (Dhp.199)
Contributor: Chin Kee Thou
Date: April 27th 2024
Contributor takes responsibility for any inadvertence, factual or otherwise.
Chin Kee Thou
Buddhism and Daily Living 