The Secret to Being Always Satisfied
In the material world, everyone is hankering for something they do not possess. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is atmarama—self-satisfied. This satisfaction is not passive; it is an active state of spiritual fullness. Whether one is a renunciant or a householder, the secret to peace is to accept the arrangement of the Lord and remain always satisfied with whatever is offered. This saves time and energy for the cultivation of pure devotional service.
The Internal Connection
The primary reason a devotee is always satisfied is their constant connection with the Supreme. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that because a devotee thinks of Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours a day, they feel the presence of the Supersoul. This internal reality makes external circumstances irrelevant. A true brāhmaṇa or paramahaṁsa requires nothing from the outside world to feel complete.
- A devotee is always satisfied because he feels the presence of the Supersoul within his heart and thinks of Him twenty-four hours a day. That is real satisfaction.
- A paramahamsa like Madhavendra Puri is always satisfied in the loving service of the Lord. Material hunger and thirst cannot impede his activities.
- A true brahmana is always satisfied. Even if he has nothing to eat, he can drink a little water and be satisfied. This is only a matter of practice. Unfortunately, however, no one is educated in how to be satisfied in self-realization.
- As described in Bhagavad-gita: one who is always satisfied and engaged in devotional service with determination and whose mind and intelligence are in agreement with Me - he is very dear to Me.
Satisfaction in Family Life
For householders, satisfaction is the key to prosperity and peace. Śrīla Prabhupāda cites Cāṇakya-śloka, stating that when a husband and wife are mutually satisfied, the Goddess of Fortune (Lakṣmī) automatically enters that home. Conversely, dissatisfaction leads to agitation and fall down. A Kṛṣṇa conscious husband must be satisfied with one wife, and the wife must be satisfied with her husband; this mutual contentment creates a favorable atmosphere for spiritual progress.
- In the Canakya-sloka, the moral instructions of Canakya Pandita, it is said that if a husband and wife are always satisfied with one another, then the goddess of fortune automatically comes.
- A Krsna conscious grhastha should always be satisfied with one wife and be peaceful simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. Otherwise at any moment he may fall down from his good position, as exemplified in the case of Ajamila.
- A wife should always remain satisfied with her husband, and a husband should always remain satisfied with his wife.
- Various sastras advise that for material convenience one should keep his wife always satisfied by giving her ornaments and by following her instructions. In this way there will be no trouble in family life.
Facing Distress with Satisfaction
Material life inevitably brings reverses, but a devotee remains undisturbed. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses the analogy of a man wearing shoes: just as shoes protect one from thorns and pebbles, self-satisfaction protects a devotee from material distress. An intelligent person accepts difficulty as God's mercy, thinking that the Lord is minimizing their past reactions.
- For a person who has suitable shoes on his feet, there is no danger even when he walks on pebbles and thorns. For him, everything is auspicious. Similarly, for one who is always self-satisfied there is no distress; indeed, he feels happiness everywhere.
- When a devotee is put into distress, he accepts this as God's mercy and offers Him repeated obeisances with his body, mind and intellect. An intelligent person, therefore, should be always satisfied, depending on the mercy of the Lord.
- When suffering reversed conditions, the devotee always considers that the reverse conditions are the Lord's concessions. He is never angry with his master; he is always satisfied with the position his master offers.
The Duty of Leaders
Maintaining this atmosphere of satisfaction is a primary duty for leaders in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs that temple presidents and preachers must ensure the devotees are happy. Spiritual life should not be a burden of impossible work; rather, it should be performed with enthusiasm. If devotees are satisfied, the mission will be successful.
- Become yourself very convinced of this Krishna philosophy, be always preaching and trying to understand some basic points from different angle of vision, keep the devotees in your temple always satisfied and jolly, and that will be your success.
- You (the Temple President) must make sure that all the devotees in your temple are always satisfied as far as possible by being happy in spiritual life.
- Krishna Consciousness means we should always be satisfied and happy, not that we must work something impossible, becoming overburdened, and then because we are unhappy by so much trouble we lose enthusiasm altogether and give up all hope.
Conclusion
To be always satisfied is not an artificial imposition but a natural symptom of advancement. Śrīla Prabhupāda reminds us that we already have an arrangement for our maintenance by the Lord's grace. By recognizing this and remaining fixed in service—equal in happiness and distress, fame and infamy—we become very dear to Kṛṣṇa.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Always Satisfied. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.