Rosicrucian Beacon Magazine - 2012-09 - AMORC

When listening to music or reading a book, anxiousness or aggravateddisturbance of the emotions are dispelled or are, at least, more easilysuppressed.There are people who will tell you that all throughtheir lives they have found happiness in the reading of aparticular book or in reciting the words of a poem withoutexperiencing any diminishing gratification. But actually,if we think about it, that book or poem wasn’t being reador recited constantly. There may have been hours or evendays between the reading, so the stimulus wasn’t constantenough to cause monotony to set in.Monotony follows where there’s no change, and if ourconsciousness isn’t varied enough, a state of lethargy andirritation occurs. Those of us who are exposed toconstant intense excitement, as great mental andphysical activity, or those who are engaged instrenuous work, will often need to wind down,expressing a desire for quiet and relative inactivity.When they achieve this, a sense of contentment arises.Having said that, this doesn’t mean that a state of lessstimulation is necessary for contentment. Rather, it showsthat the conditions of the previous environment, takencollectively, were becoming all too monotonous. Moreover,the quiet and peace that follows is a different kind ofexperience, a consciousness of different stimuli which, bycontrast, is a gratifying change.Personal SatisfactionThe elements of contentment lie principally withinourselves. We won’t all experience ‘well-being’ in thesame environment. Our temperament, personality andconditioning must be taken into consideration. Forexample, a dynamic person, one of considerable nervousenergy, can find pleasure only in exceptional activity. Theirenergy must be dissipated or it causes a restlessness that isdiscomforting. Another type of person may be an introvert.Their contentment is had perhaps in contemplation,periods of abstraction and creative thought.Continuous restlessness is evidence that we have desiresand urges that aren’t being satisfied. We may frequentlychange our interests, but to no avail. Consequently, ourinability to achieve contentment isn’t always due to anymonotony in our mental or physical activity. It must berealised that, although variations or changes are necessaryfactors of contentment, they alone aren’t sufficient. Thechange must be consistent. It must be a change within thegroup of things in which we find satisfaction.Individual PursuitsHowever, a continuous change of general interests bysomeone is an indication of emotional (not mental)instability. It demonstrates that they are not aware ofthat desire or desires which will bring them the personalsatisfaction they crave. Their frequent changes from onekind of activity to another imply a blind search for a sourceof inner peace. Such plunging into life may of courseeventually unearth or reveal to them the course they shouldpursue for satisfaction, but it is a trial and error methodwhich most often brings failure and discouragement or evenmental and physical suffering. Having said that, we do needto have some exposure to life, to its multiplicity of appealsand demands, if we’re to learn what’s in harmony with ourlatent abilities and desires.If our consciousness isn’t varied enough, a state oflethargy and irritation occurs.When we are young our minds are continuallyactive and we need to find a channel for expression; ifnot, our inhibited energy may lead to emotional distress.Youthful mental energy sometimes makes it difficult toattach ourselves to, or engage with anything worthwhilefor a length of time. For young people, education shouldallow exposure to different fields of human endeavour,an essential component so they may find a relationshipto their inclinations. They should, as in all progressive,modern schools, have an opportunity to do manual workas well as academic subjects. In this way, a connection mayresult allowing them to concentrate on a particular sphereof activity where they’ll find contentment.As far as the individual pursuit of contentment isconcerned, an essential first step is to begin by askingyourself what you want in life? This shouldn’t be construedin terms of particular things. As we’ve said, no one thingalone, if constantly indulged in, provides a long-lastingfeeling of satisfaction. The question should be related toyour feelings, your urges. In general, what activity, whatkind of life, physical or intellectual, appeals to you?16The Rosicrucian Beacon -- September 2012