Contentment (santutthi) is the ability to be happy and fulfilled in one’s present state. The Buddha said: ‘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 describes the monk’s contentment like this: ‘He is satisfied with a robe to cover his body and alms food to satisfy his stomach and having accepted no more than is sufficient he goes his way, just as a bird flies here and there taking with it no more than its wings’ (D.I,71). Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Contentment
Contentment (santutthi) is the ability to be happy and fulfilled in one’s present state. The Buddha said: ‘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 describes the monk’s contentment like this: ‘He is satisfied with a robe to cover his body and alms food to satisfy his stomach and having accepted no more than is sufficient he goes his way, just as a bird flies here and there taking with it no more than its wings’ (D.I,71).
Bhante,
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http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/2008/09/contentment.html