Contentment is bliss

Once I read a very good article relating to contentment and how our expectations in life influence this factor in our life.

There was this professor who receive a lot of complaints from his graduated students about the stress in their work life and how their income is unable to sustain their life style.  So, he summon them to his house to have a tea party. He told out all his cups of different make and brand. Some are very basic and some are very expensive in value.  He filled them up with tea in his kitchen and then bring it out to serve his students.  His students took one cup each and after that, the professor place the balance of the cups which is not serve on the table and asked his student what did they notice.  His students could not understand his intention and told the professor, that it is a just a few cups which was not served.  Finally, the professor told them that the few cups left behind are those cheap and simple cups and all the expensive cups have been taken by them.  The analogy is that a cup is still a cup and it does the same job and the tea in the cups are the same. The choice of the cup lies with each person . If one choose to use an expensive cup, then he or she will need to pay more sustain that type of life style. Why are we stress and feel frustrated, it is because we are chasing for something which is more than the basic. we want to keep up with the Jones, we want to be brand conscious , we want the best of everything and all these criteria indicates the achievement of an individual. Is it so important to have such a huge ego?

One more example is that  a General in the army was summon to see the King . When he arrive there, the King told him that he is very thankful to him for winning so many battle for his country and he wanted to reward him.  The King told the General that all the land which is encircle by him will be given to him. So, the General jump on his horse and ride day and night to cover as many land as possible so that the King can give it to him.  He forgot to eat on proper time and he ride on all weathers whether rain or shine. In days, he fell sick but he did not stop and he carry on riding. Until he fell of his horse and was dying.  Finally, he was awaken and he call his sons to his death bed.  He expressed regrets that he has been very greedy  and now after he died, he only need a piece of  land measured 6ft by 6ft for his burial.
What is the use of the acres of land which he has accumulated and it will make a different if he has been contented.

Both these examples illustrate that that our illusions and expectation is the cause of our discontentment. What we need is a good home and enough food to eat and we will be able to pass the day. Of course, you may say that this is very passive and the whole world will not improve if we just keep to our basics. Yes, you maybe correct, the choice lies with each individual.  Some are destined to do big things and some are contented with what they have.  In the end, we have to do the things which make us happy and peaceful.  Greed is the source of all evils and we need to be aware of its bad influence . We need to strike a balance in our life to be blissful.

Namaste.