One of the basic principles in yoga philosophy, as outlined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, is “santosha” – a Sanksrit word meaning “contentment.” I used to have a hard time with the concept of contentment. The word seemed to imply apathy or a resolved acceptance, as if you have settled for something. Perhaps this is because my basic nature is to be constantly driven – to produce, to create, to make something of myself in the world. My chattering mind tells me that to be content would not be productive.
I’ve been re-reading Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now, which offers so many reminders that the repetitive patterns in our minds can really lead us astray. As I practice being “the watcher” of my thoughts, I realize how many of them are about being productive – about proving my worth by being a good wife, parent, daughter, teacher, etc. I am scattering my energy into the past and into the future.
I know now that to be content is not to give up or become stagnant, but to be fully aware of Now and to blissfully accept “what is” in this moment. When we sit quietly and watch our thoughts, we occasionally notice tiny spaces of no thought and sometimes become lost in pockets of timeless awareness. When we reach that state of ultimate balance – a state of no desire – we not only feel contented but we feel blissful. We perceive the universe not from the mind or emotions, but we feel its vibrancy in our body, our energy field, and our spirit. We joyfully surrender to the moment because we remember that there is no separation between ourselves and all that is.
The irony is that all creative ideas and inspirations come from this inner contentment, not from our thinking mind. If we try to produce something through thought (like writing, painting, or finding a solution to a problem), we usually hit roadblocks. But if we relax into contentment, a wealth of wisdom and creativity springs forth, as if from nowhere. So I am now learning to allow more moments of emptiness into my daily life, knowing that I am actually being productive by doing nothing. My teaching is slowing down, and less is becoming more. I love Yin Yoga for its simplicity and Qigong for its deep connection with the universe. I’m thinking less and just vibrating more when giving Reiki treatments.
Life is manic. We all crave stillness. Don’t just sit there, do NOTHING!
