Santokh (or Santosh) means contentment, satisfaction or happiness. Let us try and understand what it really is. It is generally understood that a contented person is one who is satisfied with what he (or she) has, or has achieved in life.

It may be argued that if one is satisfied with what one has there will be no further effort on his part. This will result in stagnation be it in the field of personal advancement, education, industry, research and so on.

Even in the spiritual field a person who does not take care would succumb to temptations. Hence interpreting contentment as a state where one is happy with how things are would not be right. Man is expected to work systematically and progressively for development that serves the people and rewards the workers even as the promoter benefits financially. It should not be done only to get wealthier. The latter is Trishna or craving and is like fire that keeps the mind restless.

Craving has multiple adverse effects says Guru Arjun:

ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਚਲਤ ਬਹੁ ਪਰਕਾਰਿ ॥
ਪੂਰਨ ਹੋਤ ਨ ਕਤਹੁ ਬਾਤਹਿ ਅੰਤਿ ਪਰਤੀ ਹਾਰਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਸਾਂਤਿ ਸੂਖ ਨ ਸਹਜੁ ਉਪਜੈ ਇਹੈ ਇਸੁ ਬਿਉਹਾਰਿ ॥
ਆਪ ਪਰ ਕਾ ਕਛੁ ਨ ਜਾਨੈ ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧਹਿ ਜਾਰਿ ॥੧॥ ੫ ੧੨੨੪-੨੫

Craving works in many ways; It is never satiated and the person ultimately loses. Pause. Peace of mind, comfort or fortitude are not experienced; such are its ways; Burning in desire and anger a craver doesn’t cares for his self or others (M: 5, p 1224-25).

Craving does not let a person be satisfied even while having all the pleasures of life says the fifth Guru:

ਅਸੁ ਪਵਨ ਹਸਤਿ ਅਸਵਾਰੀ ॥ ਚੋਆ ਚੰਦਨੁ ਸੇਜ ਸੁੰਦਰਿ ਨਾਰੀ ॥
ਨਟ ਨਾਟਿਕ ਆਖਾਰੇ ਗਾਇਆ ॥ ਤਾ ਮਹਿ ਮਨਿ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੨॥ ੫ ੧੭੯

Riding fast running horses and elephants,
Using the best scents and sharing bed with beautiful spouse;
Watching dances, plays and sports, and listening to music;
Even all these do not bring satisfaction to a craving mind. 2 (M: 5, p 179).

This is particularly so for wealth. Sukmani Sahib puts it like this:

ਸਹਸ ਖਟੇ ਲਖ ਕਉ ਉਠਿ ਧਾਵੈ ॥ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਪਾਛੈ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
ਅਨਿਕ ਭੋਗ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਕੇ ਕਰੈ ॥ ਨਹ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਾਵੈ ਖਪਿ ਖਪਿ ਮਰ
ੈ ॥ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਊ ਰਾਜੈ ॥ ਸੁਪਨ ਮਨੋਰਥ ਬ੍ਰਿਥੇ ਸਭ ਕਾਜੈ ॥ ੫ ੨੭੯

A person who has earned a thousand runs after a hundred thousand;
He keeps running after mammon and is never satisfied;
He makes use of the wealth in many ways;
But burning in the fire of craving is ever restless;
None is ever satisfied without the spirit of contentment,
because wealth is transitory like the pleasures in a dream (M: 5, p 279).

It is a fact that craving seems to increase as one gets more wealth like fire is not satisfied with any quantity of fuel. One wants to have more and more:

ਵਡੇ ਵਡੇ ਰਾਜਨ ਅਰੁ ਭੂਮਨ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਨ ਬੂਝੀ ॥
ਲਪਟਿ ਰਹੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਰੰਗ ਮਾਤੇ ਲੋਚਨ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਸੂਝੀ ॥੧॥
ਬਿਖਿਆ ਮਹਿ ਕਿਨ ਹੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਨ ਪਾਈ ॥
ਜਿਉ ਪਾਵਕੁ ਈਧਨਿ ਨਹੀ ਧ੍ਰਾਪੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਹਾ ਅਘਾਈ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ੫ ੬੭੨

Craving of even big kings and land owners is not satiated;
They cling to mammon ever inebriated and can see nothing else. 1.
No one is satisfied with wealth; just the way fire is not satiated with any amount of fuel; Remember there is no satisfaction without remembering God. Pause (M: 5, p 672).

It would be prudent to think of contentment as the satisfaction of having done one’s best without being attached to the fruits of labor. However while this is desirable it is not easy unless one learns to be able to disconnect for the sake of peace of mind. According to the law of averages man must be prepared to face both success and failure. But the truth is that man is exuberant in success and depressed in failure. Bhagat Ravidas says it thus:

ਮਾਟੀ ਕੋ ਪੁਤਰਾ ਕੈਸੇ ਨਚਤੁ ਹੈ ॥
ਦੇਖੈ ਦੇਖੈ ਸੁਨੈ ਬੋਲੈ ਦਉਰਿਓ ਫਿਰਤੁ ਹੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਜਬ ਕਛੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਤਬ ਗਰਬੁ ਕਰਤੁ ਹੈ ॥
ਮਾਇਆ ਗਈ ਤਬ ਰੋਵਨੁ ਲਗਤੁ ਹੈ ॥੧॥ ਰ ੪੮੭

See how this man made of clay dances around;
He looks around, hears and talks of mammon and runs around for it. Pause.
He feels proud when he finds something,
and starts crying when wealth is lost (Ravidas, p 487).

This is particularly relevant in today’s world of intense competition. People overwork to the detriment of their health and family responsibilities. Further an overambitious person is not content with work alone. He would do any thing to go past competition. This causes stress and leads to evil actions like trying to pull down the competitor/s and propping up one’s own image. Guru Nanak explains:

ਮਾਇਆ ਧੰਧਾ ਧਾਵਣੀ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਕਾਰ ਬਿਕਾਰ ॥
ਮੂਰਖੁ ਆਪੁ ਗਣਾਇਦਾ ਬੂਝਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਕਾਰ ॥
ਮਨਸਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਣੀ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਬੋਲ ਖੁਆਰ ॥
ਮਜਨੁ ਝੂਠਾ ਚੰਡਾਲ ਕਾ ਫੋਕਟ ਚਾਰ ਸੀਂਗਾਰ ॥੨॥ 1343

Evil thoughts make one run after mammon and take evil actions;
The ignorant person just wants to be counted forgetting the real purpose of life;
Desires for more wealth tempt one to be self oriented and of dishonorable words;
An evil person pretends to be pious with a false facade (M: 1, p 1343).

For this, methods like backbiting and planting adverse stories about the competitors are resorted to. Far from being happy in what they are doing the fire of jealousy consumes such people making them restless. Jealousy does no good, says Gurbani:

ਜਿਸੁ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਤਾਤਿ ਪਰਾਈ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਿਸ ਦਾ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਹੋਵੀ ਭਲਾ ॥
ਓਸ ਦੈ ਆਖਿਐ ਕੋਈ ਨ ਲਗੈ ਨਿਤ ਓਜਾੜੀ ਪੂਕਾਰੇ ਖਲਾ ॥
ਜਿਸੁ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਚੁਗਲੀ ਚੁਗਲੋ ਵਜੈ ਕੀਤਾ ਕਰਤਿਆ ਓਸ ਦਾ ਸਭੁ ਗਇਆ ॥
ਨਿਤ ਚੁਗਲੀ ਕਰੇ ਅਣਹੋਦੀ ਪਰਾਈ ਮੁਹੁ ਕਢਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਓਸ ਦਾ ਕਾਲਾ ਭਇਆ ॥ ੪ ੩੦੮

Nothing good ever happens for one who is jealous of others;
No one believes such a person and he remains in wilderness;
A backbiter is branded as one and whatever he may have achieved is lost;
One who levels false accusations loses credibility and becomes infamous (M: 4, p 308).

Then what is contentment? Guru Nanak answers:

ਸੇਵ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੰਤੋਖੀੲ ‍ਂ ‍ੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਸਚੋ ਸਚੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ॥
ਓਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਮੰਦੈ ਪੈਰੁ ਨ ਰਖਿਓ ਕਰਿ ਸੁਕ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਕਮਾਇਆ ॥ ੧ ੪੬੬-੬੭

Those who remember the eternal Lord are contented in service;
They do not tread the path of evil; being on the righteous path they do good deeds 9M: 1, p 466-67).

Put in your best and relax is the message. Success or failure, profit or loss is a part of life and one should take these in one’s stride:

ਜਿਉ ਲਾਹਾ ਤੋਟਾ ਤਿਵੈ ਵਾਟ ਚਲਦੀ ਆਈ ॥
ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਾਈ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥੧੦॥੧੩॥ ੧ ੪੧੮

Profit at one time and loss at another is an eternal way of life;
Things happen at God’s pleasure; that is Its virtue. 10. 13 (M: 1, p 418).

We should work with the confidence that according to laws of nature results are commensurate with one’s capability and effort. Seeming aberrations in the form of undeserving success and vice versa should not sway one away from the path. This attitude can be a source of solace and leads one to the pray:

ਤੂੰ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਚਿਆਰੁ ਮੈਡਾ ਸਾਂਈ ॥
ਜੋ ਤਉ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋਈ ਥੀਸੀ ਜੋ ਤੂੰ ਦੇਹਿ ਸੋਈ ਹਉ ਪਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

You are my just Master;
What pleases You happens; I receive what (I deserve) and You give. Pause. (M: 4, p 11).

This is not arbitrary. Things happen according to Hukam, the laws of nature based on one’s deeds:

ਹੁਕਮਿ ਚਲਾਏ ਆਪਣੈ ਕਰਮੀ ਵਹੈ ਕਲਾਮ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚਾ ਸਚਿ ਨਾਇ ਸਚੁ ਸਭਾ ਦੀਬਾਨੁ ॥੨॥ ੧ ੧੨੪੧

God’s pen moves according to our deeds,
God is called the Truth for Its virtue of truth- based justice;
Its court administers true justice (M: 1, p 1241).

Let us therefore ask the benediction of Naam, the Divine virtues:

ਵਿਣੁ ਤੁਧੁ ਹੋਰੁ ਜਿ ਮੰਗਣਾ ਸਿਰਿ ਦੁਖਾ ਕੈ ਦੁਖ ॥
ਦੇਹਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੀਆ ਉਤਰੈ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਭੁਖ ॥
ਗੁਰਿ ਵਣੁ ਤਿਣੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਕੀਤਿਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਕਿਆ ਮਨੁਖ ॥੨॥ ੫ ੯੫੮

Asking for any thing but Your virtues O Lord is adding more pain to life;
Kindly grant me Naam that that my craving is satiated;
You make plants and grass bloom, why not the humans (M: 5, p 958).

A man with this mindset works but is not affected by the results and carries on with his activities in a balanced manner.

ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਭੁਖ ਗਈ ਸਚੈ ਨਾਇ ਪਿਆਰਿ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਰਤੇ ਸਹਜੇ ਰਜੇ ਜਿਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਰਖਿਆ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰਿ ॥੧॥ ੩ ੬੪੭

Craving of the mind goes when one loves Naam, the Divine virtues;
Those dyed in those virtues are naturally satisfied as they have God in mind. 1 (M: 3, p 647).

Remembering Naam is helpful in overcoming craving says Guru Ram Das:

ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਭੇਟਿਆ ਮੇਰਾ ਪੂਰਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਤਿਨ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਵੈ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਜੇ ॥
ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਭੁਖ ਸਭ ਉਤਰੈ ਜੋ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥ ੪ ੪੫੧

Those who meet the true guru have Naam firmly enshrined in mind;
All craving of those who remember Naam is banished (M: 4, 451).

In Sikh belief knowing Akal Purakh’s virtues is possible only through Gurprasad, the true guru’s grace in the form of teachings. That in turn comes through Divine grace:

ਜਿਨਾ ਗੁਰਸਿਖਾ ਕਉ ਹਰਿ ਸੰਤੁਸਟੁ ਹੈ ਤਿਨੀ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਗਲ ਮੰਨੀ ॥
ਜੋ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਦੇ ਤਿਨੀ ਚੜੀ ਚਵਗਣਿ ਵੰਨੀ ॥੧੨॥ ੪ ੫੯੧

Those on whom Akal Purakh is pleased, obey the guru;
Those who remember God as guided by the guru, blossom. 12 (M: 5, p 591).

The fifth Guru sums up the state of one who follows the Guru:

ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਦ ਮਤਸਰ ਏ ਖੇਲਤ ਸਭਿ ਜੂਐ ਹਾਰੇ ॥
ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਦਇਆ ਧਰਮੁ ਸਚੁ ਇਹ ਅਪੁਨੈ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਵਾਰੇ ॥੧॥
ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਚੂਕੇ ਸਭਿ ਭਾਰੇ ॥
ਮਿਲਤ ਸੰਗਿ ਭਇਓ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਗੁਰਿ ਪੂਰੈ ਲੈ ਖਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਤਾਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ੫ ੩੭੯
A man of God – Sheds attachment to desires, anger and running after mammon;
Learns sharing, contentment, compassion, righteousness and truthfulness.
This way the fears of reincarnation leave;
Meeting with the true guru leads to instant cleansing the mind and salvation. Pause. (M: 5, p
379).

This is how one can hope to break the grip of craving and enjoy a satisfied life.