VASISTHA continued:
Contentment is another gate-keeper to liberation. He who has quaffed the
nectar of contentment docs not relish craving for sense-pleasures: no delight in this
world is as sweet at contentment which destroys all sins.
What is contentment? To renounce all craving for what is not obtained un-
sought and to be salisfied with what comes unsought, without being elated or
depressed even by them - this is contentment. As long as one is not satisfied in
the setf, he will be subjected to sorrow. With the rise of contentment the punty of
one's heart blooms. The contented man who possesses nothing owns the world.
Satsanga (company of wise, holy and enlightened persons) is yet another gate-
keeper to liberation. Satsanga enlarges one's intelligence, destroys one’s ignor-
ance and one's psychological distress. Whatever be the cost, however difficult it
may be, whatever obstacles may stand in its way, satsahga should never be neglec:
ted. For, satsanga alone is one’s light on the path of life. Satsanga is indecd supe-
riut to all other forms of religious practices like charity, austerity. pilgrimage and
the performance of religious rites.
One should by every means in one’s power adure and serve the holy men who
have realised the truth and in whose heart the darkness of ignorance has been dis-
pelled. They. on the other hand, who treat such holy men disrespectfully, surety
invite great suffering.
These four — contentment, satsahga (company of wisc men), the spirit of
enquiry, and self-control, are the four surest means by which they who ate drown-
ing in this occan of sarmsira (repetitive history) can be saved. Ceatentment Is the
supreme gain. Satsanga is the best companion to the destination. The spirit of
enquiry itself Is the greatest window. And, self-contro! is supreme happiness. if vou
are unable to resort to all these four, then practise one: by diligent practice of une
of these, the others will also be found in you. The highest wisdom will seck you of
its own accord. Until you tame the wild clephant of your mind with the help of these
nobic qualitics, you cannot have progress towards the supreme. even if you become
a god. demi-god or a tree.