Let’s talk about contentment today. Have you ever thought about how much is enough? If you think about every one of us doing better than where we thought we would be. Even then we are on this race for more. We want just a little bit more. More money, more prestige, more pizza, more travel, more TV, more computer game, and whatnot. Have we ever contemplated how much is enough? We must realize that it is a moving target. I remember when I was in college, they used to pay me a $900 per month stipend and tuition waiver. I thought I was on top of my world! Not only I was driving a brand new car but had some money left over at the end of the month. Fast forward 30 years and $900 may not cover a day on occasion. So what happened? We kept wanting more and as we received more, our needs kept increasing. This is what we need to realize. There is never enough unless you are content within yourself. I have everything that I need at this moment. You may have heard the story of a Mexican fisherman. A wall street executive takes a vacation in a small town in Mexico. He notices that fishermen go out every morning and return with fish by early afternoon. They cook the fish and then have beer and dance the night out. This was their daily routine. Wall Street guy sits down the fisherman and says you know I can make you big. He says how so? Wall Street guy says we can get you a loan to get a couple of boats where you can catch more fish and sell it to the town next door. Fisherman asks what next? He replies well then we buy some more boats and sell the fish to the City. Fisherman asks then what? He says then we buy a fleet of 100+ boats and make you the biggest fishing operation in Mexico. Fisherman asks then what? He says then we do an IPO and you cash out and retire. The fisherman asks what was next? Wall Street guy says then you can retire in a small town and wake when you want, go to sea catch some fish, have a beer, and party the night out. The fisherman says I am already doing it! So you see sometimes what we are chasing is right in front of us. Just with a little bit of contentment, we can get what we want without chasing for it.
So in meditation today, we will settle down in our hearts. Then we will contemplate do we really need more? After contemplation, we will make a determination I am where I am supposed to be. I have what I need for this moment. We will than hold that determination.