Hinduism places great importance on the idea of contentment (santosha), or being satisfied and grateful for what you have now, but what does that mean in terms of wanting material success? Many people in the modern world strive to get good grades and work hard in school in order to get a good job. Many people also work hard in their jobs, so they can get a promotion or higher pay and give a better life for their families. Some people that were born in poverty were definitely not content with their lives, and they spent their entire lives studying and working hard, and the end result was them achieving great financial success and a comfortable life for their family. How can the idea of contentment be reconciled with material success? Or do I not have the correct understanding of contentment?
Hinduism defines 4 phases in life - that of Bala, Brahmachari, Gruhastha, Vanaprastha.
During the Bala phase, one is actively involved in studies.
During the Gruhastha phase, one is involved in actively looking for material prosperity for his family. One of the modern day Vaishnava devotee of great merit/plus a scholar is Sri Velukkudi Krishnan. Even being a devotee of great calibre, we see him sometimes participate in business ventures - such as publishing calendars and selling them for the proceeds to go to non-profit ventures and so forth. We see him visiting foreign countries for upanyas - he will still charge them for all this, but maybe a very nominal fare. So you see, life has to go on. On top of everything, our own desire for realizing our true potential exists as a motivating force. So the focus of this phase of Gruhastha is to enable that i) our family is well-fed, their goals in life are met with adequately out of our quest for material prosperity ii) our own strife to realize our true potential for a greater sense of personal satisfaction, is met with. The point is that we can make as much money as our true potential allows us to, without falsification or bribery of sorts, but then also practice 'dharma' or charity, which I believe to be 5% to 25% depending on how well to do one is.
Vanaprastha - During this phase, is the time when one seeks god fervently. The focus on kama and other material pursuits is almost extinct. The only goal is to seek god and to procure union with him in the afterlife.
You can take a standard work such as Thirukkural, as a guide to follow, which will provide with a balance of the opposite forces that motivate every person - between artha (materialism) and moksha (seeking god).
Pranam.
