Dr. Vijai S Shankar MD.PhD.
Published on www.academy-advaita.com
The Netherlands

7th May 2016  

Know

“Contentment"

It is man’s nature that he wants to know something other than what he already knows to keep him contented. There is something fascinating about wanting to know something, other than what man already knows, that keeps him contented. Why is it by nature that man wants to know something other than what he already knows and keeps him contented?

It is because man is not totally at ease and contented every moment of his daily life, but only wishes to be. Man knows that he is at ease and contented with what he knows only temporarily. Therefore, he wants to know to be at ease and contented every moment of his daily life. Therefore, he always tries to know something other than what he already knows.

So, what does man need to understand that would keep him contented and at ease with every moment of his daily life is to be pondered wisely.

Man needs to understand that if he comes to know the life with which he will be contented and at ease every moment of his daily life, he will still not be contented and at ease. He will still want to know what would make him contented every moment of his daily life.

So man needs to understand that life has made him to be what he is and so has made everyone to be who he or she is. This is because every element that is found in nature makes up what nature is in every moment and nature is at ease every moment.

The elements in nature are also found in man and make up what man is in every moment. It is, therefore, obvious that man is not separate from nature. Nature evolves every moment and so makes man to be who he or she is in every moment, from primitive to modern times.

This further implies that whatever he or she knows is all that he or she can know. And it is also impossible to know something other than what he or she already knows.

The moment he or she understands that life takes care of everyone and they will come to know what everyone is meant to know, he or she will always be at ease and contented in every moment of his or her daily life.

Author: Dr. Vijai S. Shankar
© Copyright V. S. Shankar 2016

Editor’s Note:
Man’s thirst for knowledge and for knowing is legendary. It is the carrot that keeps man and woman striving forwards – or so he or she believes – constantly throughout their life.  There is satisfaction, albeit of limited duration, as each new opportunity, provided by life, appears for man to discover and to know. Man believes that on this path he is thus assured of gaining the esteem of his fellows, often with prizes and privileges attached. It becomes a sort of race with those who are like-minded. There is no rest or contentment here. Life has also gifted man this article – a blessed opportunity to understand.
Julian Capper, UK.

German Translator’s Note:
This article gives one more opportunity to understand instead of to know.
As soon as knowledge is understood to be a natural function of life and not made by the human mind, happiness prevails. This happiness means to be at ease and contended. It is independent from knowledge but based on the conviction that life gives the knowledge which is meant to be given every moment, precisely. This understanding makes man happy every moment of his daily life and full of trust that knowledge will happen to him whenever it is needed.
Marcus Stegmaier, Germany.

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