Sakthi Vikatan Feb 4, 2014
Seed In The Tree07
Problems: no problem at all!
Author: Sēvāratṉā Doctor T.S. Narayanaswamy.
Images: Aras
Man has at least some desires: Healthy life; good education; pride; good
job or business; prosperity; food, clothing and jewelry, dwelling; and
desired property or daily needs with no shortage.
The wish list extends further: Good wife or husband; good children, good
relatives and friends; great fame, pride, and good life; and a long
life, most of all.
These desires are justifiable. To accomplish these ideals, we struggle
from birth to death. We
call them problems when there are delays or impediments in attaining our
goals, and unsavory circumstances and environment.
Are the problems, problems?
Any problem has a resolution. “Every resolution is the beginning of a
new problem,” said Aristotle. 
Those who exercise a great caution in life to avoid problems, problems
find them. There are people living in great fear, though they project a
brave front and tell themselves they can manage any problem getting out
of hand. They think that postponing problem resolution will eventually
resolve itself but against their belief, the problems assume gigantic
proportions and cause great fear.
If you immunize yourself, you can avoid diseases. Likewise, if you
develop and increase the ability to manage problems, the problems won’t
threaten you.
Upon facing a problem, we blame it on inopportunity, circumstances, and
others. Barring that, the thought we are responsible for our problem is
the first step to a resolution.
Problem hobbles us in life. But, we should not let the problem run our
life. Put aside the notion we should succeed in life; when failure
strikes you, success is not to give in to grief.
He who discovered the new world!
Fourteenth century! There was a great urge to invent something new,
discover unknown and unseen things… A mariner sailed from Spain to
discover new continents. He was Christopher Columbus. He took with him
20 sailors on a small ship, beginning his journey in the Pacific Ocean.
His journey, well there was no end. It was sea, sea, sea and more sea.
He saw nothing else. Twenty-four days passed by. There was sight of
land.
Ronald, the keeper of food and water rations came to know he had 21 days
of supplies on the boat. He calculated a journey back to Spain with no
loss of life would take 24 days on a fast run, provided there were no
sea storms, rain, wind… He informed the sailors if the onward journey
was to continue and no land was seen, life would be lost on the seas.
The tired and worn-out sailors concurred with Ronald’s assessment,
concluded to turn the ship back to homeland to join their near and dear
and informed Columbus of their unanimous decision.
Do water and food come in the way of my objective? Should I back off in
my effort to discover a new world? Columbus could not imagine such a
scenario in his mind.
He ordered the shipmates, “Go forward in full blast. There is no going
back.”
Countermanding his order, Columbus was shocked to see from the upper
deck the ship was going towards Spain.
Yes, Ronald took charge of the ship and shipmates. Columbus,
taken custody, was tied to the mast.
The captainship of Columbus was usurped from him. Friends turned
enemies. Columbus was not perturbed and did not give up his objective,
though he was tied down to a mast. He was in deep thought. He called
Ronald and discussed about food and water situation.
Columbus: Twenty-one persons have water and food for 24 days. Is that a
yes?
Ronald: Yes, enough for 24 days.
Columbus: Of the 21 people, am I not one?
Ronald informed, “There is no doubt. We oppose you to save you.”
Columbus: “If I did not eat and drink, my share of food and drink for 24
days will feed the rest for one more day. Is it not true?”
Ronald understood the calculation but not the reason. Columbus
continued…
Columbus: “Drive the ship forward for one more day. In case, a shore was
not discovered, push me into the sea. The rest of the food and water
will be sufficient for your return journey home.”
The sailors understood the calculation, Columbus’ grasp of his theory
and their duty as sailors.
He was untied. The ship forged forward. In the next 20 hours, land was
sighted and the ship was at anchor shortly. American continent was
discovered.
Columbus did not change his theory bending to the circumstances. He
succeeded changing the circumstances and holding on to his theory fast.
Instead of removing the problems, finding the reasons and acting on
resolving them help find success. That is the way of Columbus.
Agasthiyar winning the fate!
Obeying Siva’s order, Guru-Muni left Himalayas for Kumari (tip of south
India). On his way, he found the Vindhya mountains hard to traverse.
Egoistic mountain king said to Agasthiyar he would give way if he paid
homage to him by mentioning his name. This was a problem for Agasthiyar
who paid homage and offered worship only to God and Jñāṉis.
The resolution to the problem was not to offer homage, but to curb his
hubris and traverse the mountain. He did not think of shrinking the
mountain. Agasthiyar took Viśvarūpam
(Gigantic size). Agasthiar’s foot was bigger than the mountain. In one
step, he jumped over the mountain. Vindyan stood there astonished.
Abrogating the ego, he fell at the feet of Agasthiyar.
Problems stand before you as mountains. Do not try to get rid of it or
make it small. You must know how to increase your power. The
mountain-size problem will shrink to the size of a mustard seed.