This Sunday was my centre’s day course on Contentment. The following are some notes I took – I hope the words inspire you to change to a happier you!

This course resonated with me profoundly especially since I am reading the 2nd book called Affluenza (When too much is never enough) by Clive Hamilton and Richard Denniss. From this book I learnt a new word:  ” downshifter” someone who voluntarily reduces their income.

A few of my favourite lines from the book:

• “in the coming decade most of our income growth will be spent on consumer products the craving for which has yet to be created by advertisers“
• “the 1960s and 1970s saw a flood of literature predicting a future in which technological progress would allow us to work only a few hours a week and our main problem would be how best to enjoy our leisure… a society able to devote itself to activities that are truly fulfilling”
• “instead of our growing wealth freeing us of our materialist preoccupations, it seems to have had the opposite effect”
• “people in affluent countries are now even more obsessed with money and material acquisition, and the richer they are the more this seems to be the case”
• “no matter how much money people have they feel they need more”
• “striving to become richer even at the expense of their own happiness and that of their families”
• “most people cling to the belief that more money means more happiness”
• “raising the threshold of desire creates an endless cycle of self deception”
• “hedonic treadmill”
• “the only way to win is to stop playing the game”
• “Australia is in a collective psychological disorder – we indulge in the illusion that we are deprived”
• “we complete ourselves symbolically by acquiring things that compensate for our perceived shortcomings… marketers understand much better than we do how we want to create an ideal self”
• “increasing levels of materialism that characterises affluent societies has been shown to be associated with declining well-being and a rise in pathological behaviours”
• the famous anon quote “in rich countries today, consumption consists of people spending money they don’t have to buy goods they don’t need to impress people they don’t like”
• “Big houses serve to keep family members apart because there is less need to be together”

Buddha said we are “desire realm beings; beings of the unforgettable world” : we have inability to forget object of desire even for a moment.

Geshe-La, on seeing some cows in a field during an ordination ceremony at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre, Ulverston, UK, said

 “see those cows? they have more contentment than you!”.

Atisha said “Friends, there is no satisfaction in the things you desire. It is like drinking sea water to satisfy thirst. Therefore be content.”

Practice contentment to be rich!