Contentment in Activity

3 min

The confounding of a positive spiritual virtue or principle with a negative animal vice is common amongst writers even of what is called the "Advance Thought School," and much valuable energy is frequently expended in criticising and condemning, where a little calm reasoning would have revealed a greater light, and led to the exercise of a broader charity.

Writers often confuse a positive spiritual virtue or principle with a negative animal vice. This is common even among writers of what is called the "Advance Thought School." Much valuable energy is often spent criticizing and condemning. Yet a little calm reasoning would have brought greater understanding and led to a more generous spirit.

The other day I came across a vigorous attack upon the teaching of "Love," wherein the writer condemned such teaching as weakly, foolish, and hypocritical. Needless to say, that which he was condemning as "Love," was merely weak sentimentality and hypocrisy.

The other day, I came across a strong attack on the teaching of "Love." The writer condemned the teaching as weak, foolish, and hypocritical. Needless to say, what he condemned as "Love" was merely weak sentimentality and hypocrisy.

Another writer in condemning "meekness" does not know that what he calls meekness is only cowardice; while another who attacks "chastity" as "a snare," is really confusing painful and hypocritical restraint with the virtue of chastity. And just lately I received a long letter from a correspondent who took great pains to show me that "contentment" is a vice, and is the source of innumerable evils.

Another writer condemns "meekness" without realizing that what he calls meekness is only cowardice. Another attacks "chastity" as "a snare." He is really confusing painful and hypocritical restraint with the virtue of chastity. And just recently, I received a long letter from a correspondent. He took great pains to show me that "contentment" is a vice and the source of countless evils.

That which my correspondent called "contentment" is, of course, animal indifference. The spirit of indifference is incompatible with progress, whereas the spirit of contentment may, and does, attend the highest form of activity, the truest advancement and development. Indolence is the twin sister of indifference, but cheerful and ready action is the friend of contentment.

What my correspondent called "contentment" is, of course, animal indifference. Indifference cannot coexist with progress. Contentment, however, can and does accompany the highest form of activity and the truest progress and development. Laziness is the twin sister of indifference, but cheerful and willing action is the friend of contentment.

Contentment is a virtue which becomes lofty and spiritual in its later developments, as the mind is trained to perceive and the heart to receive the guidance, in all things, of a merciful law.

Contentment is a virtue that grows into something noble and spiritual. This happens as the mind learns to recognize the guidance of a merciful law in all things, and the heart learns to receive it.

To be contented does not mean to forego effort; it means to free effort from anxiety; it does not mean to be satisfied with sin and ignorance and folly, but to rest happily in duty done, work accomplished.

Being content does not mean giving up effort. It means freeing effort from anxiety. It does not mean being satisfied with sin, ignorance, and folly. It means resting happily when your duty is done and your work is complete.

A man may be said to be content to lead a grovelling life, to remain in sin and in debt, but such a man's true state is one of indifference to his duty, his obligations, and the just claims of his fellow-men. He cannot truly be said to possess the virtue of contentment; he does not experience the pure and abiding joy which is the accompaniment of active contentment; so far as his true nature is concerned he is a sleeping soul, and sooner or later will be awakened by intense suffering, having passed through which he will find that true contentment which is the outcome of honest effort and true living.

A man may be said to be content to live a degraded life, remaining in sin and debt. But he is really indifferent to his duty, his obligations, and the rightful claims of others. He cannot truly be said to possess the virtue of contentment. He does not experience the pure and lasting joy that comes with active contentment. In his true nature, he is a sleeping soul. Sooner or later, intense suffering will awaken him. After passing through that suffering, he will find the true contentment that comes from honest effort and living rightly.

There are three things with which a man should be content:

There are three things a man should be content with:

1. With whatever happens. 2. With his friendships and possessions. 3. With his pure thoughts.

Contented with whatever happens, he will escape grief; with his friendships and possessions, he will avoid anxiety and wretchedness; and with his pure thoughts, he will never go back to suffer and grovel in impurities.

Content with whatever happens, he will escape grief. Content with his friendships and possessions, he will avoid anxiety and misery. With pure thoughts, he will never return to suffer and wallow in impurity.

There are three things with which a man should not be content:

There are three things a man should not be satisfied with:

1. With his opinions. 2. With his character. 3. With his spiritual condition.

Not content with his opinions, he will continually increase in intelligence; not content with his character, he will ceaselessly grow in strength and virtue; and not content with his spiritual condition, he will, every day, enter into a larger wisdom and a fuller blessedness. In a word, a man should be contented, but not indifferent to his development as a responsible spiritual being.

Not content with his opinions, he will continue to grow in intelligence. Not content with his character, he will never stop growing in strength and virtue. And not content with his spiritual condition, he will gain greater wisdom and deeper happiness every day. In short, a man should be content, but not indifferent to his development as a responsible spiritual being.

The truly contented man works energetically and faithfully, and accepts all results with an untroubled spirit, trusting, at first, that all is well, but afterwards, with the growth of enlightenment, knowing that results exactly correspond with efforts. Whatsoever material possessions come to him, come not by greed and anxiety and strife, but by right thought, wise action, and pure exertion.

A truly contented man works hard and faithfully, and accepts all results with a calm spirit. At first, he trusts that all is well. Later, as his understanding grows, he knows that results match efforts exactly. Whatever possessions he gains come not through greed, anxiety, and struggle, but through right thought, wise action, and honest effort.