Contentment is the best tonic; why inflict on yourself the disease of greed and consume tonics to get strength, and to hanker further? Use the body as a boat to cross the ocean of life, with devotion and detachment as the two oars. (SSS Vol.7, p. 104)
Nothing is more profitable to man than contentment. It is a treasure richer than the three worlds. The contented person can experience indescribable Divine glory. Contentment is a Sattvika quality. Make the body obey your will; never bow down to it and follow its whims. (DhyV, p. 51)
Do not encourage the multiplication of desires. It is best for you to be content with whatever you have been given. In the chapter on Bhakti Yoga, Krishna enumerated the 26 noble qualities of a devotee, which endear him to the Lord. Of these, contentment stands out as one of the most important characteristics of a devotee. It means not running after worldly enjoyments. Having enjoyed so many types of luxuries and so many sensual things in your life without having gained peace and fulfilment from them, you should now be content with whatever you have, regarding what you already have as being all you need.
The heart of a person who does not have contentment may be compared to a bamboo basket riddled with holes. If you were to try to draw water out of a well using such a bamboo basket, by the time the basket comes up, all the water will have leaked out. There wouldn’t even be a drop of water left to quench your thirst. In a similar way, when you are suffering from pangs of desire and greed you find that all your contentment will have leaked out before you even get a chance to enjoy the fulfilment of your desires. When contentment goes out of your heart only discontent will remain behind in its place. Desires always breed more desires. The Bhagavad Gita taught if you want to enter the kingdom of liberation and gain Moksha, you should acquire the 26 noble virtues. But even if you have just one, you will be qualified to get in. Of all of them one of the most important qualities is contentment. Only the one who has contentment can be considered great. Swami asks often; ‘Who is the greatest human being in this world?’ The answer is, ‘The one who is always satisfied is the greatest of men’. Therefore, you have to develop his satisfaction and contentment in yourself. (DBG, pp. 159-161)
The Gita has been given to the entire world with Arjuna as the instrument. Arjuna stands as the representative of all mankind; all these great teachings are applicable to humanity itself. To follow these teachings, you have to gradually reduce your desires and wants, and gain an understanding of the principle of Atma, that will bring you a permanent state of contentment. (DBG, p. 163)
Man must learn to be content with what he has and what he gets and look upon whatever he receives as gift from God. When he is satisfied with what he has, he can be happy. When he desires for more, he gets discontented and miserable.
Today there are people who are never content with what they have and are ceaselessly seeking more wealth, position or power. They are perpetually harmed by discontent. They claim rights of every kind, but have no awareness of their responsibilities. They are consumed by perpetual discontent and insatiate desires. The contented man is a more praiseworthy person. One who has achieved contentment can enjoy the bliss of the Divine grace. (SSS Vol.20, p. 11)
Contentment is an elevating quality; permit the mind’s attention to travel towards God, who alone grants peace. I shall be with you, wherever you are, guarding you and guiding you. March on, have no fear. (SV, p. 45)
Contentment is the most precious treasure. Contentment alone can lead man to the goal of life, the attainment of divinity. (FDD, p. 8)
No one has the golden quality of contentment. The discontented man is as bad as lost. There is no limit to man s desires. Every person wielding power over others yearns to rise higher and higher and exercise more and more influence, but no one attempts a rigorous examination of himself to find out whether he has merit enough to be conferred with the position he craves for. Those who contentedly carry out the duties commensurate to the positions they hold, are very few. Everyone, fit or unfit, throws stones, on the off-chance of getting a fruit from the laden tree. Students must cultivate humility and the habit of self-examination. (SSS Vol.14)