The problem here and now, unknown

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(Excerpt from the EN-CN Dhamma discussion with Ajahn Sujin on Zoom on Sun Oct 9th 2022.)

[A. Sujin] Is there only one problem, only the problem of Ukraine? Or there are other problems too? Can anyone stop problems from arising? [No]

So, why think about it, worry about it? Is there problem now? The problem [now] is that no one can stop thinking about the Ukraine problem...

And can it be solved, any problem? Any answer, for solving Ukraine's problems?

[Irene] In the absolute truth, in the world of dhammas no one can prevent any problem, no one can do anything because there's no one

[A. Sujin] ...as it is. So, should we keep on thinking about the Ukraine problem?

[Irene] It's not necessary to think about the problem of Ukraine but [that] also cannot be controlled.

[A. Sujin] That's why, if one dies thinking about Ukraine's problems, [would] that be worthwhile? [No]

So, what is the real problem? Otherwise there must be problems after problems after problems, endlessly.

[Irene] The real problem to me is all the conventional world is taken for real and it's coming to disturb one after the other.

[A. Sujin] So, can the problem be solved or there is no way at all to solve the problem?

[Irene] I can see [that there is] for some people like you and I think when there's direct understanding the problem can be solved.

[A. Sujin] How can that understanding solve the problem? The question is how can such understanding be there, arising to understand the truth. This [lack of understanding] is quite a real problem, it's the source for all kinds of problems. Is there a way or there's no way at all? Otherwise any kind of problem couldn't be solved at all.

And actually, where is the real problem now? [There's] no problem about Ukraine, first: before the Ukraine problem, is there a problem now? Without understanding the problem right now, can there be any kind of problem being solved? So, is there problem now? [It's] unknown problem, so it seems like there's no problem at all [now]. So, where is the problem and what is the problem?

[Irene] The problem is here [and] now.

[A. Sujin] So, where is the problem is now, what is now the problem?

[Irene] Ignorance.

[A. Sujin] Ignorance of what?

[Irene] Of the truth of dhammas.

[A. Sujin] If there is no understanding of the problem right now, it's impossible to solve that problem, it's [the source of] all problems in life. So, what is the problem now, what? If there is no understanding of the problem right now, there cannot be the moment of understanding or stopping it. It's so true, so what is the problem now? Is there any problem now?

I'm not talking about Ukraine's problem. I'm talking about now, is there any problem now? If one thinks that there's no problem now, how can it be solved? Any problem of life in the world, not only thinking about Ukraine problems or any problems, is there problem now? Isn't thinking about Ukraine a problem too? So, no way to solve any problem because of no understanding of what the problem is, just living with problem after problem after problem, endlessly.