Contentment, or Santosha, is one of the Niyamas or observances of Raja Yoga.
Contentment seems out of place among the other niyamas – cleanliness or purity, austerity, study of scriptures and self-surrender or surrender to God – because Santosha seems to be something that we just are, not something that we do. Or is it something that we can do?
Can we control whether we experience Contentment?
Contentment is the emotional state of the yogi: at peace with the present, yet not complacent, accepting of the self as it is, and accepting others and situations as they are.
We learn to look at our self as we would look at Nature. We accept Nature as it is, without trying to change it. The sky and the mountains don’t displease us in any way. In the same way when we accept ourselves and others as they are, we gain a certain freedom and contentment, which is our true nature.
To experience Contentment, if we don’t have it, Vedanta says that our mind must be a little prepared in that it already has some small measure of Contentment. The mind must already have a little of what it seeks to discover. So it seems that seeking Contentment in small ways has value. We can learn to observe more keenly what is in front of us and observe whether we are searching or grasping in our yoga practice or whether we are quietly softening and accepting into things as they are.
There is no end to craving. Hence contentment alone is the best way to happiness. Therefore, acquire contentment. – Swami Sivananda
Supreme happiness is obtained through contentment. You will find in Yoga Vasishtha that Santosha, Santi, Vichara and Satsanga are the four sentinels at the door of Moksha. If you have Santosha, the other three will come by themselves. Santosha, contentment, is one of the important virtues for an aspirant. Riches and poverty are not counted by the amount of wealth one keeps. A king, if keeps too many desires and wants more, is considered to be a beggar. A beggar, if is contented with what they have, is really a king.
From contentment comes real happiness.
If an aspirant has no contentment, their mind will be always wandering. Therefore it will be impossible to concentrate and perform their yoga practices. Contentment should be developed by all aspirants.