Priityanna

When one gives food to other persons out of love, that food is called Priityanna.

When one is in great trouble, without food and drink, and when one gets food from others, that is called A’pada’nna.

While accepting Priitya’nna, you must determine whether that man, from whom you are accepting Priitya’nna, is Shuddhodana or not. (Shuddhodana=Shuddha+Odana i.e. one who earns his livelihood by honest means). Secondly, you must see whether the food offered to you is Ra’jasika or Ta’masika. If you take Sa’ttvika food regularly, you must not take Ra’jasika food by any means. But in A’pada’nna, there is no such discrimination. When one is starving, his very life is in danger, where is the scope for discrimination? While taking A’pada’nna, the family men may not discriminate about food, but the Sannya’sins must not accept Pa’pa’nna or A’pada’nna because if one takes Pa’pa’nna, it is an encouragement to Pa’pa. There should be silent protest. If the family men also follow this rule, it is well and good.

Chapter 10: Santosa

Santosa bears 2 meanings:

1. Samyaka Tusti (thorough contentment)
2. Antarastha Tusti (internal contentment)

When there remains no desire for a particular object, you can say that you have achieved contentment for that particular object.

Both Sukha (happiness) and Tos’a(contentment)are concerned with mind and nerves. You know that “Anuku’la vedaniiyamsukham”. When a man gets a vibration in his nerve-fibres and nerve-cells that is pleasing to his sam’ska’ra, he enjoys happiness. After that when he thinks that the objects which he was engrossed are not required, it is called Tos’a.

You get happiness from a favourable vibration of an object in your nerve-cells and nerve-fibres as desired according to your Sam’ska’ras. Then after getting sufficient happiness you feel that more of that is not needed: it is called Tos’a. So hapiness and contentment are not one and the same thing. The wicked and the sinners used to catch-hold of the feet of Lord Shiva addressing Him as “Baba,Baba Father) “and Lord Shiva used to become satisfied with this easily. In Sanskrit the word “A’shu” means `soon’.Therefore another name of Shiva is A’shutos’a- “Who becomes satisfied very soon”.

Practically speaking the essentialities of man are very limited. Very little amount of things are required for maintaining the body and family. But the hunger in man is infinite. His hunger is physical as well as mental. If the hunger is not satiated, man feels the deficiency within and remains dissatisfied. This is called “Asantos’a”(discontentment). Due to this dissatisfaction in life people of the world are engaged in murders, mutual clashes and quarrels. What should the wise person do? He will try to lead his life according to the principles of Aparigraha. When he, practically, is satisfied in Aparigraha, he has established himself in Santos’a too. Before this, Santos’a can never be achieved. Actually Santos’a is the final result of Aparigraha. Without Aparigraha, contentment in physical and psychic levels is an impossibility. You have seen how some animals remain satisfied, for example the dog. He is a happy animal because he gets contentment with a little amount of food. The opposite is the case with bees. They will accumulate honey more and more. Ultimately the bee hive will become so big in size that honey will ooze out of it. Still they will not stop collecting honey. But give some food to the dog, he will be very joyous and after eating he will sleep. Therefore, it is said that man should learn contentment from the dog. The dog has two good qualities which man should learn. One is the Santos’a and the other is sleeping. How does a dog sleep? He sleeps very deeply but with a very little sound he gets up. This is called “Shva’na Nidra’ “or dog’s sleep. Man’s essentialities are very few. But due to his Sam’ska’ra of greed he goes against the principles of Santos’a and as a consequence he becomes disturbed mentally. Sarpah pivanti pavanana cadurbala’ste

The serpent consumes vitality from air. In winter he can remain for six months without food in hibernation.

Shus’kaeh trn’aehbano gajahbalinam’ bhavanti

The wild elephant is a herculean animal, but he lives with dry grass of the forest.

Kandaerphalaohmunivara’hraks’antika’yam Muni(hermits)of forests maintain their lives with roots and fruits of the trees. The roots and fruits strengthen the upper two plexii-Ana’hata and Vishuddha. Therefore the saints can cultivate their spiritual and intellectual thoughts only with these roots and fruits. Therefore man’s desires are not many. He requires one thing and that is Santos’a.

Santos’ae vapurus’asyaparamamnidha’nam If a man is established in Santos’a, he is king of kings. And without Santos’a he remains a beggar inspite of being a multi-millionaire. Have you understood now the psychological cause behind the agony of the rich? Continuous enjoyment of favourable vibrations in the nerves gives you happiness and the feeling that you need no more is Santos’a. If your nerve receives the opposite vibration which you do not like, you get sorrow then and there. ManwantsSukha(happiness).SukhamanantamA’nandam If the happiness becomes infinite it is called A’nandam. You have understood the difference between Sukha and Santos’a. I have also divulged the secrets of establishment in Santos’a. It is only the practice of Aparigraha which results in Santos’a.