Santośa is a state of mental ease and calm that matters greatly for meditation practice: the principle teaches us to live without needless strain, set the right priorities and find the bright sides of life.
Santośa is a principle of harmonious living that lets us become happy.
You always have a choice that does not depend on outer circumstances: to be happy or to be unhappy, to concentrate on the bright sides of life or on the dark ones.
It is the state of happiness, harmony and contentment that forms a firm foundation for spiritual practice.
So to succeed, we need to put the emphasis on the bright side of events.
- By noticing the positive sides of what is happening, we train the habit of thinking positively, and this makes us happy.
- By concentrating on finding the positive side in everything, we understand that difficulties are temporary and can be overcome; they teach us and help us grow.
- A different way of behaving develops: accepting ourselves and being grateful for everything we have.
It is important not to fall into the trap of comfort, where the motivation to move on, to make an effort and to strive for something is lost.
So it is important to develop this motivation in yourself: I like everything, everything suits me, but I am growing in every sphere of life and changing the world around me out of love; I act for the good of all living beings.
How to train santośa
- Whenever you have a negative thought about yourself, find 3 reasons (or more) why you are fortunate in life.
- Whenever you want to criticize someone, find 3 qualities you admire in that person.
We wish you success in practicing the principle of santośa in everyday life. To enter the state of santośa means to be in a state of self-acceptance, to dwell in boundless gratitude, and at the same time to keep growing.