Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Satisfaction or contentment is a different kind of mathematics. It is all about how we look at ‘too much’ and ‘too less’ and the perspective regarding this changes from person to person.
‘Too much’ for me is a point of satiety and satisfaction. It is an indication for me to stop desiring. This trait may be inborn or cultivated. It is healthy to cultivate the habit of being satisfied with what might satisfy our needs and it leads to peace of mind and happiness.
My ‘too much’ can be someone else’s ‘too less’. So, when I have reached a point of satisfaction, the other someone has probably not even reached the midway of that.
Satisfaction is thus related to our wants and needs. Wants and needs are related to desires. Desire is related to our mind, senses and consciousness. We can train ourselves in relation to control the desires surfacing from within.
We need to know where, when and with what we need to be satisfied. It is not easy. It comes with dedicated practice and determination not to deviate from that practice.
Acharya Chanakya mentions three things with which we need to be content and satisfied. He also mentions three more things with which we should never be satisfied or content with. Both are essential for our mental and emotional health.
Let us see what Chanakya has to say in this direction.
Three things to be satisfied with
संतोषस्त्रिषु कर्तव्यः स्वदारे भोजने धने।
त्रिषु चैव न कर्तव्योऽध्ययने जपदानयोः॥चाणक्य नीति ७.४।
Three things to be satisfied and contented with
One should always be satisfied with –
- Swa Dhara – one’s wife
- Bhojana – food
- Dhana – money and wealth
On the other hand, Chanakya also mentions three things for which one should never be satisfied or contended. There should be a constant thirst to keep doing them repeatedly and regularly since they are happy and healthy habits.
Three things not to be satisfied and contented with
One should never be satisfied with –
- Adhyayana – studying, learning, knowledge,
- Japa – chanting, prayers,
- Dana – charity
Related Reading – ‘Three things NOT to be satisfied with’
In this article we will limit our discussion to the first half of the verse which deals with ‘three things to be satisfied with’ and their impact on comprehensive body-mind-sensual-spiritual health.
Three Things one should always be satisfied with!
Swa Dhara – We have seen that the lust and attraction – kama – towards another woman other than one’s wife will lead to infidelity issues. This is also applicable for women who are attracted to other men outside marriage. One should know the difference between meaningful love and meaningless lust.
Chanakya here says that one need to be faithful towards their spouse. Marriage is a ceremony which brings two people, two hearts, two souls and two families together. Everything need not be perfect between the couple. And there is no perfect couple. But to work out perfectness amidst ocean of imperfectness is how the institution of marriage works. Infidelity is not the solution for the chemistry gone wrong between couples.
Unfaithfulness leads to divorces, separation, mental and emotional trauma to both partners. It is not that the person will be happy with the other woman. It was just an attraction or diversion. Many may not know or have reasons for not being faithful with their spouse and being very good with the other person.
After marriage, a house becomes home. There is nothing which cannot be sorted out within four walls. The love, care, affection, bonding and trust keeps this institution going strong. Infidelity takes its origin from discontentment and dissatisfaction, the reasons for which we need to figure out. Happy homes are made of happy spouses.
A feeling that ‘I need to go back home because my life partner is waiting for me’ is a priceless feel. Habit of this keeps one mentally and emotionally happy.
It is also an advice to follow Grihastha Dharma – duties and responsibilities of a family person, which is one of the ashramas – phase of life of an individual and also a dharma – righteous responsibility. Being loyal to one’s spouse is also a part of Sadvritta – circle of goodness and pathway for happiness.
Bhojana – Ahara or food, according to Ayurveda is one among the trayopastambhas – three pillars of one’s life. It is a lifelong support system and basic instinct of life, for every living being. Food is a blessing but it can also become a curse if it is consumed following wrong etiquettes. Ayurveda has detailed every aspect of meaningful eating which includes ideal quality, ideal quantity, ideal time and place of consumption of food, method of eating and related rules and regulations and disorders that one would suffer due to erratic and undisciplined eating.
Food should be taken to one third of one’s capacity is what Ayurveda advocates. This is the ideal quantity and is different for different persons. One should know these things to keep oneself healthy, fit and happy.
A verse from ‘Ajirna – Agnimandya’ chapter i.e. chapter dealing with causes and pathogenesis of indigestion and sluggish digestion of Madhava Nidana treatise says that ‘when a person who does not have self control and eats with animal instinct, without considering the quantity of food would develop a serious kind of indigestion which is the root of many disorders’.
This is true even nowadays. People eat food without following the rules and regulations with respect to quality, quantity and time and consequently suffer from many disorders.
Chanakya too has included bhojana – food among the factors which one should be contended with and know the limitations for the same.
Dhana – According to Acharya Charaka ‘Dhana Eshana’ i.e. pursuit for wealth is one of the three main pursuits in the life of a person and a mandatory one too. Man is constantly seeking wealth and the desire is tempting and unlimited. Dhana is not just wealth; it is fame, glory, name and success.
Once the wealth starts flowing into one’s life, the greed for getting more and more of it starts ascending to a limitless point. The person is never satisfied. Chanakya says that we need to be satisfied with whatever wealth we have and get. The earning of dhana should be ethical and within limitations. Greed is a very dangerous disease which can lead one to untoward consequences. Cheating and robbing are the consequences of unquenchable thirst and greed to have more and more wealth, whose results will be destructive. Greed leads to dissatisfaction and discontentment and this will rob us of our peace of mind. Materialistic longings can emotionally separate us from our loved ones or attract unwanted people into our lives.
Artha – Earning wealth and money is one of the Purusharthas i.e. four fundamental goals or aims of one’s life. One should be satisfied with what he earns and it should be ethical, moral and meaningful.
Lobha or greed for more and more wealth or material is one of the dharaniya vegas i.e. the urges which we need to constantly monitor and have a control upon, before it takes control over us. So, one should know the limits for earning and accumulating wealth and materials and learn to draw the ‘lines of limitations and satisfaction’ for the same. This is good for mental and emotional health.
