Dis-Solve The Problem

Which is the biggest problem humans have? As per the Buddhist language, the answer is simple and obvious. It’s sufferings! Suffering of any kind and any magnitude is undesirable.
What’s the real cause behind the suffering?
Interestingly, the way the root cause of suffering is defined becomes the very basis for the different schools of philosophies and Yogas.
In the school of Karma Yoga, the root cause for all suffering is non-action. The solution lies in acquiring the ability to take the right actions while performing one’s duties.
If someone believes that all suffering originates due to a lack of Faith in a supreme being or deity God, then this is the school of Bhakti-Yoga. The solution offered is to Love God and his worldly creation unconditionally.
In Raja-Yoga, the root cause of all problems is believed to be a lack of control over the mind. Subsequently, the systematic method for meditation – Ashtang Yoga is prescribed to Practitioners on this path.
When one believes that the real cause is nothing but ignorance of reality and self, the person is Gyan-Yogi. Vedas, Scriptures, and Upanashids become the ubiquitous choices for Gyan Yogis to learn the nature of reality and evolve as better human beings.
Buddhism believes in 8 causes for suffering or Dukha which are birth, death, decay, disease, “association with the unpleasant”, “separation from the beloved” “when one does not obtain what one desires”, and the Five Aggregates matter( sensations, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness)

The respective path or doctrine appeals to the person based on personality texture, inclinations, and qualities.

Notably, these schools don’t necessarily claim that they end the suffering or solve the problem. It goes beyond.  The teachings and methods are meant to Dissolve the problem than Solve it with precision. They take us to the point where the need to solve the problem itself disappears.

Once a mystic came to a village and announced that he has a secret Mantra, chanting of all the problems will disappear instantly. Hearing this, people from all over came to learn the mantra from the mystic.
Mystic began his speech. All Listen carefully, I have a secret Mantra but to be eligible to learn it you have to comply with three different conditions. If you fail to meet any of the conditions, then this Mantra will actually work in reverse and will destroy you. So be honest with yourself.

The first criterion is here. “Those who are addicted to anything they should step back”
40% of the people stepped back immediately.
The others felt that at least they have a better chance as they are not addicted to anything.
Well done. The mystic announced the second condition.

“Those who hate someone, are never satisfied, feel frustrated, jealous in their life should step back.”
Another 30% of people stepped back.
The remaining people really feel proud as very intelligent, practical, and creative.
The Mystic continued and said, “Those who are behind acquiring some rare knowledge about this world, should step back”. Everyone in the remaining lot stepped back except one.

Mystic called the person and said, Oh my friend none of them meet the criteria except you. I see you are not driven by desires and limitations of body, mind, and intellect. You must be free from all the problems and suffering.

You do not need this Secret Mantra anymore!

The man smiled and left the place.

The whole idea is pointing towards a state where the need to seek the solution disappears. To elucidate the point, take an analogy of waking from nightmares.  You saw that you are lost in a maze, alone. You are wandering hours together desperately searching for the exit, every attempt you make brings down the hope to escape.  At this time you happen to wake up from the dream. You are still in the maze however the need to solve the problem and escape the maze disappears.

It works very well in all aspects of life. Let’s look at a simile with the following cases around us

1. Many of us experienced the earlier generation photographic film camera which had quite a few challenges. The first is, the roll allows only limited copies. The Negative film is more sensitive to light. The chemical development of negative prints needed more time and quality is not guaranteed. The retake is not possible. The photography team was handling so many problems, when the digital camera was invented making all these problems obsolete
2. Think of the Pandemic when so much complexity is handled in terms of managing city lockdowns, maintaining social distancing, availability of oxygen, lack of hospital beds, training nurses, punishing rule breakers, etc. We still have these problems at hand. Thanks to a tiny dose of vaccine which has made the problem largely obsolete.
3. Add two Roman Numbers (DCC + CCCXXIX )  in your mind. Finding difficult! It was so complex to do any mathematical operations with Roman numerals until  “Zero” – the elegant, simple solution was invented by Aryabhatta. The same problem in the Hindu-Arabic number system is a simple sum of  (700 + 329). 

These are in essence, examples of Disruptions.

Indeed, disruption in the physical world makes the earlier set of problems obsolete. However, it brings a new generation of problems along with it.  The cycle continues as a never-ending wave in the oceans.  This understanding has direct implications for our own conduct as per the Vedic teachings.

When we choose to behave as material objects then we are subjected to cycles of changes and waves of problems one after other. When we choose to exist as spiritual beings, the problems simply dissolve! 
Pick up any spiritual literature or theological school,  they have always been shouting and urging humans to manifest as conscious spiritual beings. It is claimed that there exists The End State, an absolute permanent state of simplicity and joy. This state is described by different schools as liberation, Moksha, Enlightenment, Nirvana, Turiya, Samadhi, and so on.

We don’t have to go that far. In everyday life, often the solutions to the most complex issues are simple and obvious. It could be a small gesture of smiling, saying thank you for even the smallest service, listening patiently, appreciating others’ viewpoints, and taking a cup of tea together to sort out matters!

Waiting for the day when all problems will be solved is a sheer waste of time. The idea is to know that the current work and actions are just meant to wake up from a dream or end the stage show where whatever is done, said, perceived, interpreted, felt, or experienced becomes insignificant in a new state of reality.  In Nutshell, the problem has to be solved till the need to solve them disappears. Who Knows, the time may not be far away when the current problems will be Dissolved rather than Solved.