Inner Contentment Essay

1090 Words5 Pages
Inner Contentment is knowing and appreciating what one already has without wanting more than they actually need. According to The Dalai Lama, people are never really satisfied with what they have. They have a desire to want more and once they obtain what they want, they keep on wanting more. It is always, “I want this, this, and that”. For most, it is a struggle to stand back, look at the big picture, appreciate what they already have and be satisfied with that. Everybody wants everything. Can you blame them? It is only human nature to always feel the need to have everything. There are two different levels of “desires”. The first one that I will bring into the spotlight is the desire to have the necessities that one needs in order to survive, such as food, clothing, and shelter. These kinds of desires are ones that are reasonable. The other level of desires is where you have everything you need, but yet, you still want more. You have a great car, a great house, and brand named clothes, but you want newer versions of each. Now, that is unreasonable. The Dalai Lama also speaks about the “troubles” and uncomfortability that these unreasonable desires can cause amongst communities. “For example, if you live in a prosperous society where a car is required to help manage in your daily life, then of course there’s nothing wrong in desiring a car. But if you live in a poor village in India where you can manage quite well without a car but you still desire one, even If you have the money to buy it, it can ultimately bring trouble” (P. 968). I can fully agree with that statement because neighbors and peers can easily be jealous and feel uncomfortable because you have such and such products and they do not making them feel like they are less than you. Many people think that having the newest of everything will result in self-satisfaction but The Dalai Lama firmly disagrees
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