No one likes to remain in a state of tension and uneasiness, and when someone gets relief from a particular cause of tension he or she relaxes and enjoys a peaceful pause, a state of mental ease that lasts until the next problem arises. Yogis strive to extend the “peaceful pause” by maintaining thorough contentment in all situations. This practice is called 'Santosha' in terms of Yoga.
One would think that the richest people in the world must be the most content. They have all the things that many people lack and should be able to sit back and relax. But if you ask them they will explain that they are worried that their wealth might vanish with a decline in the stock market, or robbers, revolutionaries or others might try to snatch their wealth away.
If you want to be content with life, the secret lies in not taking too much from the world, which in yoga is known as "Aparigraha". Contentment and aparigraha are inextricably linked. The people who amass wealth beyond their needs end up being more nervous and insecure than those who practice restraint.
We can learn something about contentment by observing the animal kingdom and noting one good example of contentment and one bad example. The honey bee is a bad example. The bees work and work, and keep collecting nectar and producing honey even though their hives are overflowing. They don’t rest and work until they die a death in a very short life.
Dogs on the other hand are creatures that are easily satisfied. Give a dog some food, pat him on the head and he will wag his tail and then sleep.
It is better to follow the example of the dog than the honey bee. We should work according to our capacity and be satisfied with what we get and then take rest. If one works and then continuously hankers for more and more material objects, then peace of mind will always remain absent. Not only will peace of mind be lost, but physical health as well.
Working and then resting doesn’t mean to accept exploitation. If you are not getting what you rightfully deserve you should stand up for your rights. However, once you get what is due to you, then it is time to relax and enjoy mental peace and physical rest. This is the way to follow the yogic principle of Santosha.
Source: Dada Vedaprajinananda