Let every year make you a better person.
Benjamin Franklin
|
[This article is not meant to be the final statement on suffering, but a
start on an open question, "What are the roots of suffering?" It
organizes twenty-five distinct root causes into four categories. ]
The Roots of Suffering
For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at
the root. – Henry David Thoreau
I have decided to declare a war on needless suffering. As a child it never
made sense to me that we lived in comfort while others suffered horribly. As an
adult, I understand some of the political, economic, organizational and
psychological roots of suffering, yet standing back from it all, it still seems
absurd and unreal. But what seems most unreal is that many of us have learned to
tolerate it completely.
Strategies for the War
If I am going to wage war, a strategy is needed. My initial strategy is this:
Since there are easily ten thousand life-destroying problems, let us seek out
the roots of the problems. Henry David Thoreau put it well: "For every
thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the root."
My only difficulty with his quotation is that it implies that there is only one
single root. Another part of my strategy is to try to develop "a solution
that generates other solutions." In other words, I combine a set of
high-leverage concepts into a process that creates new solutions as needed.
Let me explain why I insist on striking at the roots. Picture a volunteer
representing each life-destroying problem lining up at your door, to ask for
your donation or volunteer time to assist them in their cause. Hunger,
terrorists, AIDS and a dozen other infectious diseases, the rainforests,
campaign finance reform for a special-interest dominated political system, the
refugees from 50 different wars, three dozen crippling genetic diseases from
muscular dystrophy to lupus, the cause of prisoners of conscience, people who
have lost a limb to landmines that have been left after a conflict, people whose
immune systems have been destroyed by radiation or chemicals that have leached
into their water, the homeless, and so on! The line of people wanting your time
or money stretches into the distance.
At some point you close the door to these requests. You may close it right away,
secure in the belief that you've paid your taxes so your government will handle
all these problems. Or you may close the door when you have given all that you
have, and have become overwhelmed and sickened by the futility of there never
being enough.
What significance would seeing a list of all the root of suffering have for you?
Would you welcome the opportunity to get to the roots? Before presenting such a
list, I urge you not to read the list only in terms of their impact on the
world. Instead, consider how you have been repeatedly victimized by these roots
throughout your life. Also, unless you are the rare individual you've been an
accomplice of these roots of suffering; you've been an instrument of harm to
others. In sum, your life is intimately involved with these roots. If you would
deny this, or merely shrug it off as something that doesn't concern you, it may
be due to ignorance or pride, two roots of suffering which blind people to their
actions. Don't be duped: these roots are your sworn enemies.
A third part of my strategy is to think in terms of a "Code of Life,"
a set of behaviors and methods that we must master for survival and happiness.
One way to look at humanity's situation is that we learn the code of life in
pieces from many sources: our parents, teachers, peers, self-help books, our
religions, television, other media, and the culture. The situation is confusing
and inefficient for several reasons: 1) These sources conflict with each other
on essentials. 2) Parts of the code are always being updated, for example,
medical discoveries regarding diet, exercise and specific maladies. 3) The
reliability of the sources and updates is often in question. 4) Like computers
speaking different languages, people are operating with different versions in
different "languages" creating conflicts and communication
difficulties. 5) Most people seem to have at least a few gaps in essential
knowledge. Given enough time, they will eventually suffer when that missing
piece of knowledge is needed. 6) More frequently, we have the knowledge but
don't apply it consistently, and so we suffer as if we were deficient in the
knowledge.
Although this "Code of Life" perspective reveals some of the root
problems, notably ignorance, I introduce it here mainly to help us define what a
high-leverage solution might look like. First, I want to define the solution on
the level of individuals, both because action begins in individual minds and
because of the modern tendency toward individualism. Second I choose to define
the solutions in terms of specific behaviors, skills and methods because these
are objective and teachable. They must be specific behaviors and methods, not
just general pronouncements. One example of a general pronouncement is to say
that the answer to suffering is to be a good Christian or Muslim, or Hindu, etc.
In general I agree, but being a good Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc., each
involves a long list of specific behaviors, attitudes, beliefs and things to
avoid. It is the specifics of these lists, and not the all-embracing label,
which interests me. (Blaming suffering on "evil" is likewise too easy,
vague and useless.)
Therefore, as you read the following list, avoid the tendency to look for a
single root problem. Also, don't dismiss some roots as too obvious, too raw, or
too esoteric. Finally, please avoid the urge to dismiss a focus on suffering as
"focusing on the negative." Otherwise all surgeons and law enforcement
officers who dedicate their entire careers to removing sources of suffering
could simplemindedly be labeled as "focusing on the negative" too.
In fact, I see a War on Suffering as merely an attempt to extend the surgeon's
mission. Based on observation (diagnosis) and reasoning, it could reduce
suffering, save lives, and restore normal function, so that people have a chance
to live a more meaningful life.
Root problems
I initially wanted to list the root problems in order from those that seem to
cause the most suffering to those that cause least. But since they often work
together or overlap, it wasn't really feasible. Nevertheless, since there are
over twenty roots, some form of classification would help with understanding and
retention. The following framework seems quite useful:
In other words, first we must notice suffering, then care about it, then
understand it, then act. Suffering is thus seen to be caused by a malfunction at
some stage in the process of relating to changes in our world. The four stages
above, can be rephrased as questions:
What follows is a loose grouping, since roots can have impacts at different
stages. Greed, for instance, can so consume our attention that we fail to
perceive other's suffering. In this case it is a problem in perception (stage
one.) But if we are consciously aware of other's suffering yet don't act because
we are greedy for our own pleasure, we have in effect made a decision to care
about ourselves and not others. In this case, greed would be a problem that
affects caring (stage two.) Greed can also affect thinking (stage three) if we
are in such a hurry to get back to our own pleasure that we hastily choose an
attractive but ineffective idea for action. And greed can affect action (stage
four) if we are in such a hurry to enjoy ourselves that we help others in a
slap-dash half-hearted way. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the same root of
suffering can act at different stages, I think it's worthwhile to maintain the
following loose classification and to put the root in the stage in which it
seems to act most frequently.
Perception – What roots block clear perception?
Information overload, and a lack of skill at identifying the critical things
to address, the current priorities.
Distorted information. This included propaganda and hype from: corporations
seeking profits, non-profits seeking donations, politicians seeking power, or
prejudiced persons just putting forth their world view-but these have their
roots in greed, fear or ignorance.
Sheer miscommunication. Simple misunderstandings.
Blind acceptance of distorted information, especially from authority figures.
A failure to do critical thinking or any thinking at all.
Insensitivity to our invisible and complex environments. Animals have the
senses to detect changes in their environments: For instance, they can see or
hear predators coming. They can smell which plants are edible. Birds have the
instinct to migrate when winter is coming. Humans originally were on the same
footing, but eventually some of their life-support systems grew invisible and
complex. For instance, unless we live in isolation on our own self-sufficient
farm, we are part of a global economy and no one has the sense organs, the
"natural equipment" to detect or predict a depression or job layoff
(equal to a sudden economic winter), a criminal (equivalent to a predator), or a
sudden attack (from a terrorist or military enemy.) So the root of some
suffering is that some of our life-support systems have become complex and
large, and invisible to our five senses. Our information sources and rational
minds can only help us make short-range predictions at best.
Rigid, intolerant beliefs and behaviors; nonacceptance of others'
differences. These may stem from intolerant religious beliefs or interpretations
of these beliefs, or from intolerant cultural assumptions.
Pride – But what is pride behaviorally? Often it manifests itself as a
conscious decision not to use new information to modify a previously decided
behavior. This may stem from a desire to be seen by others as strong or
immutable, which in this case has its root in a desire to be accepted by others
or oneself. In other words, we are afraid of looking stupid and so don't want to
reveal our ignorance. But another form of pride ignores new information because
one has decided, once and for all, that no further knowledge or self-work is
necessary. The thinking might be: "I'm an adult. I know the basics. I don't
need to learn or change. Either others must change to suit me, or I won't
participate."
Caring – What interferes with caring?
A narrow circle of active caring. Many people only actively care about
themselves, their family and friends. A small circle of active caring sometimes
results in exploiting the people outside the circle to benefit those inside the
circle. At other times a small circle results in tolerating evil done to those
outside the circle, either actively or through unjust structures. Some people
who only care about their personal happiness may harm people or use them as a
means to an end. Many organizations, especially for-profit corporations, also
have a narrow circle of caring. Their management and stockholders may only care
about their employees as a means to achieving profits.
Greed as the short-sighted quest for pleasure. If we keep eating more
ice-cream than our bodies can handle, we'll eventually suffer stomach aches, and
in the long term we'll suffer the ill health and social consequences of being
overweight. If we seek sex or anything else not in moderation, it leads to
suffering in others or ourselves. For the simple physiological reason that we
get used to any level of stimulus, the exclusive pursuit of pleasure inevitably
results in either addiction or a depressed "washed out" state. For
example, the third candy bar doesn't taste as good as the second which doesn't
taste as good as the first.
Misplaced desire (and sometimes greed) for the symbols of our emotional
needs. Women more than men might see a big house as a symbol of emotional
security. Men might be more likely to see power and promotion as symbols of
acceptance. Sex can be a symbol or substitute for intimacy or love. TV, videos
and fiction take the place of real relationships. People who have been neglected
as children may seek fame or notoriety to compensate for this early deprivation.
We can spend a tremendous amount of time and money on the symbols: clothes and
makeup, cars and the latest technological gadgets, degrees and gold medals, and
feel empty when we attain them. Not only that, but in seeking these empty
symbols we often neglect to do some actions to maintain our health,
relationships and society.
Incidentally, while pain is a natural consequence of overindulging natural
desires (food, sex, too much playing of sports, etc.), there is no satiation of
symbolic desires. You can always want more money or power or fame, and there is
no point at which your body kicks in to tell you that you've had too much, as in
the case of food, exercise, or sex.
Unrealistic expectations of oneself and others. While these can distort
perception, expectations are like unconscious desires. They sometimes override
our caring for others. These can have their source in one's upbringing,
religion, or culture (which is in part created by corporations and organizations
that have their own agendas.)
Understanding – What interferes with understanding?
Misunderstanding involves poor quality thinking. There are many kinds:
One category of poor-quality thinking involves logical fallacies, simple
mistakes in logic. For instance, if most people in American prisons are black
males, some people take that to mean that most black males are criminals.
A second category involves rationalization, one-sided thinking, or end-biased
thinking. In other words, you want to make something happen or make something
believable to yourself or another, and so you consciously or unconsciously
select only the facts, attitudes, and arguments that support what you've already
decided on. (The root: greed for the preferred end.)
Another kind of poor-quality thinking involves making untested, erroneous
assumptions. One of these is a belief that there is one single root problem that
is at the bottom of everything-and therefore one simple, total solution. Just as
we need more than one vitamin or one kind of food to keep our bodies healthy, we
have to maintain many life-support systems: the economy, the environment, the
political system, our bodies, our minds and our vital personal relationships.
Short-range thinking, in other words, failure to look far enough ahead. Even
some people who care only for themselves neglect their long-term welfare. They
might not take care of their health, or fail to plan for their retirement.
Similarly, even people with a broad circle of active concern may cause problems
by taking only short-term actions.
Short-term emotional override of reason in individuals. Despair, anger,
jealousy, lust, and mob dynamics can override critical thinking. This can result
in crimes of passion, or violence that can cause permanent destruction to people
or relationships.
Thinking that uses incomplete or distorted mental "maps." We don't
respond to the real world, we respond to our understanding of the real world. In
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) this understanding is called a mental map.
NLP focuses on the distortions and deletions that we make in our mental map of
the world. In other words, we often oversimplify or distort situations through
assumptions and biases. This is similar to the computer dictum "garbage in,
garbage out" but it's actually: good information in; good information
scrambled by our distortions; mistaken actions out.
Thinking using old "maps." The nature of thought is to take
snapshots of situations, in other words, thinking uses static representations.
Inherently, our judgments of the world become false when we fail to update them
as the situation changes.
Thinking using incorrect or insufficient data. This includes a failure to
exert enough effort to collect and check the data required to do quality
thinking. Although much physical suffering from illness and disease has at its
roots is an "act of God," the remedies for many illnesses exist in
nonwestern medical traditions. Ignorance of them, or failure to seek them out
are secondary factors.
Another category involves seeking a minimally satisfactory solution, rather
than a really good solution or optimal one. Given that most real systems are
subject to entropy and decay, a minimally adequate solution soon becomes an
inadequate solution. This often happens when people decide to exert as little
effort as possible.
Action – What blocks effective action?
The desire to be accepted by others. As mentioned above, the desire to be
accepted is a root of one kind of pride. It's also what causes people to ignore
their consciences and sometimes follow leaders who harm others. On the other
hand, the desire to be accepted by others spurs a lot of donations and volunteer
work for charities which we may not really care about. We just don't want to be
seen as selfish. This desire to please may stem from an unconscious
understanding that if we are not accepted by others, we will be ostracized by
them, causing us mental or physical suffering. Wanting to be accepted is a valid
desire, but it can go too far.
Digging deeper, another root of the desire to win people's acceptance might stem
from low self-love caused by parents who didn't give unconditional love, but
only gave it conditionally (that is, if their child obeyed, if their child were
smart, if their child were pretty…)
Unequal distribution of power and resources. People will always be unequal in
intelligence, health and talents. Even if we someday could create genetically
equal offspring, accidental factors would lead to unequal power. As an
illustration, all players of a Monopoly game start equal, but chance and
strategy always lead to a power imbalance.
Avoidance of one's duty. People shirk their responsibilities. Some of these
duties are merely social, but failure to perform other duties causes our
life-support systems to become weaker and unable to sustain as many people.
Lack of faith in arithmetic and consequences, in other words, lack of faith
that small impacts add up. In the face of large, powerful institutions people
feel disenfranchised and don't believe that their vote, their voice or their
buying decisions make a difference. Equal in damage to the belief that our good
actions don't add up is the belief that our contributions to problems are
negligible. But air pollution, toxic waste, incivility and other negatives do
add up, eventually causing significant suffering. But in the words of Stanislaw
Lec: "No snowflake in an avalanche feels responsible."
The organizational life cycle–a root cause of bureaucracy. People don't
solve all their problems individually but create a host of government, for-profit and nonprofit
organizations to solve some of their problems. While for-profit businesses face
healthy competition and a survival of the fittest situation, government
departments and nonprofit organizations typically go through a life cycle in
which they grow increasingly bureaucratic, bloated and inefficient. These
organizations and government agencies then become more dedicated to their own
survival and welfare than they are to treating and eliminating the problem.
(Corruption, while related, has its roots in greed, already mentioned.)
Not Root Causes, But Still Deserving of "Dishonorable Mention"
Unjust political and economic structures. People often suffer as a result of
imbalances of power and no-win situations created by unjust political and
economic structures. But it is the complacency of people who have the power to
change the structure but don't who are at the root of the suffering.
Immaturity and inexperience are often sources of personal suffering, but any
suffering they cause may be considered to be necessary and unavoidable since we
are all born immature and without experience. But if someone else who is more
mature and experienced cares enough to watch over and guide the immature, much
seemingly unavoidable suffering can be avoided.
Inattention to the present moment. Living in the past or future. This is
similar to the root called "Insensitivity to our invisible and complex
environments." The difference is that we do have the equipment to detect
changes in our environment, but we just aren't using it. The roots of
daydreaming and inattention can go back to pleasure (fantasy), fear, etc.
Over-centralization. (This is related to bureaucracy, mentioned above.) When
the decision-making body is located many layers of organization from the source
of the problem, suffering can be prolonged while data is collected, weighed and
processed, and while information about the problem passes through the chain of
command. Later, once a decision has been made to address the problem, there is
yet another delay as the solution passes down the chain of command.
Overpopulation is a multiplier of problems, such as pollution and ethnic wars
but can it be considered a source of suffering in itself? My guess is that most
people would consider the creation of a child irresponsible if there were not
the means to feed, care for and educate the child. If the child is created
without a reasonable likelihood of support, I'd say that whatever prompted the
pair to conceive the child is a source of suffering. So overpopulation is not
the root. The root depends on the people involved. It could stem from people's
sexual desire, romantic notions of motherhood, or the fear of growing old
without having any offspring to care for them.
Boredom. Boredom seems to have a combination of roots. First, anyone whose
circle of caring extended beyond themselves can find plenty to do. And even the
self-absorbed who are willing to exert effort can often find things to do. A
third root of boredom is the psychologically valid need for stimulation.
An imbalance of perception, caring, understanding and action. The phrase
"a bull in a china shop" usually describes a person who has too much
strength (ability to act) and not enough sensitivity. Conversely, someone who
has great sensitivity to the world's problems or the problems of others, but no
ability to act, suffers from over-sensitivity.
Testing the List for Completeness
I can think of three tests for the completeness of this list: First, analyze
historical events that produced major suffering. Second, analyze your own
personal suffering, both daily suffering and major events in your past that you
regret. Third, analyze the lives of people you personally know who seem to be
suffering intensely.
I invite any additions or improvements in the list. Rather than waiting for
refinement, I think it better to use the list to move toward action. After all,
people are suffering.
Toward Strategic Solutions – How to Use the List of Roots
I've listed twenty-five root causes and six related causes of suffering. This
is still too much for people to grasp and apply easily. So I organized most of
the roots of suffering into four categories: Failure to perceive, failure to
care, failure to understand, and failure to act. Nevertheless, I believe that
once people begin to reflect on their own lives, they will see that for them, a
much smaller set of roots play major and repeated roles in their lives.
To see if I'm right, and to use the list in your life, you might begin noting
the problems and suffering that you experience, and also the problems and
suffering of those close to you. Then, start to analyze the problems and
suffering to determine the roots. This should give you an idea of how best to
address the problem or suffering. From there you can set a goal using the Dream and Goal
Sheet, or get the help you need to address the problem or
source of suffering.
Finally, some suffering and loss will always be part of life on Earth. Our goal
should be to eliminate suffering that is extreme and gratuitous.
Discussion Questions for The Roots of Suffering
by Denny Martin
- Can you think of any other roots of suffering?
- Do you feel that we can all be accomplices to inflicting these roots of suffering on others, even when we attempt not to be? If so, how are we an accomplice?
- What is the "Code of Life"? Why must we master it? What happens if we don't?
- What is the advantage of looking at the roots of suffering through a four-stage process? In your own terms, what are these four stages?
- How does our environment affect our perception of the roots of suffering? What
adjustments can we make to resolve this misperception?
- What are some of the roadblocks to a true attitude of caring? What are some
practical ways of overcoming these roadblocks?
- Why is it important to use accurate and complete thinking process? How do we
achieve this?
- What would you say is your major block to acting effectively? What different forms can this block take to make action ineffective?
- Why is it crucial to be aggressively aware of the present moment? Can you give
examples of being in such an attentive state?
- Pick a historical event that produced major suffering. Use our four-stage process
to analyze this event to attempt to determine the roots of the suffering that caused it.
- How can we begin to live more completely so that we can notice, care, understand
and act in a mature and responsible way? What resources and methods inside and outside of All Around can help us?
Exercise for Personal Reflection
By writing in a journal, analyse your current sources of personal suffering or unhappiness to determine the roots.
Are there any themes or common roots? You might explore major past periods of unhappiness to give you perspective on what you have learned and what you can learn.
|
|
