The aspirant should take everything as it comes, instead of complaining. By this is meant that one seizes every opportunity. One develops easily, gains a great deal of mental strength and evenness of mind. Irritability vanishes. Power of endurance and patience develops. If one has to live amidst noise, one should not complain of it, but profit by it. One may make use of outer disturbances for the practice of concentration. One must develop the power to remain undisturbed by whatsoever may happen. This power comes with practice. To learn to work under different conditions means progress, and a great deal of mental control.
The practice of contentment can never make one idle. It is a sattwic virtue that propels the aspirant towards God. It gives strength of mind and peace. It checks unnecessary and selfish exertions. It opens the inner eye and moves the mind towards divine contemplation. It turns one’s energy into the inner, sattwic channels. It transmutes the gross energy, namely, greed, which is forcing one towards selfish exertions, into spiritual energy, ojas.
That person who is contented is always peaceful. He is more energetic. He is introspective and of steady mind. He recognizes the inner life, the atman within. He turns out more work calmly and with a one-pointed mind. It is on the strength of contentment that the sadhus, sannyasins, fakirs and bhikshus move about in the world in a carefree manner by living on alms. It is contentment that emboldens an aspirant to march fearlessly.