Ramesh Balsekar

you don’t have a problem

Many years ago, I once visited Ramesh Balsekar at his apartment in Mumbai, where he used to give satsang. The room was packed full of people, standing room only. But fortunately I got to sit in the hot seat and talk to Ramesh. I don't remember the full content of our conversation. One thing, though, stuck in my mind, and I remember it clearly to this day.

At one point, he said, "Well, Andy, I don't think you have a problem."

And it was one of those comments that struck just at the right moment and resonated deeply within me. And this is the beautiful thing about sitting in front of a spiritual master. Occasionally, one is in just the right space, just open enough, for a meaningful comment to enter one, to resonate deeply within oneself.

And this comment, I don't think you have a problem, is of profound significance. The human mind only knows problems. It is always on the lookout for problems. And when everything is fine and there is no problem at all, the mind will still create one somehow. It'll see something to regard as a problem, perhaps something that is really rather insignificant.

This is why there has come about the phrase first world problem. The developed world has solved most of man's problems. Nobody need starve to death. Nobody need die of cold. Society is, by and large, working pretty well. But still we manage to create problems – first world problems, instead of third world problems where people still starve.

And this is really indicating a fundamental aspect of the human condition. We are stuck with a problem making mind, and most of us live out our whole life feeling that there's a problem, creating problems as we go along, and often exaggerating them out of all proportion.

And this comment from Ramesh, all those years ago, made me see this. Yes, I don't actually have a problem. My mind is trying to create a problem, but there is none. It's remarkable to really see this for oneself. It's the beginning of the end for that problem making mind.

Of course, the actual transformation can take years. But at least realising that one does not need to live in problems – that fundamentally one doesn't have any problems – this first realisation is the biggest step on ending that way of being in the world.

And one definition of an enlightened person is someone who lives without problems. Everything that happens, happens. Things arise. Things pass away. But none of it need be a problem. It's only our human mind that makes it so.

And all of those years ago, Ramesh Balsekar helped me to see this for myself. Thank you, Ramesh.