When we are facing difficulty, sometimes the reason we cannot succeed is that we are allowing the problem to dictate to us. In other words, we are below the problem. What we need to do in order to overcome our challenges is rise above them.
Let me explain what I mean. If we have a goal in mind, we might become too caught up in our own idea of what the result should be. We might become angry that we are not getting what we want. When we allow the defilements of anger and craving to dictate our view of the the problem we tend to be narrowly focused on one aspect of the situation. As the saying goes, we can’t see the forest for the trees.
What does it mean to be above a problem or difficult situation? When we are above a set of circumstances, we can see the whole landscape or context of what is happening. We will not be limited by our preconceived notion of what is possible or the way things ought to be. Surely, if we can find a way to be more open to different possibilities, there are potential solutions to our problems that we have not thought of. One of those potential solutions just might be the one that liberates us from our current difficulty.
However, it is not always easy to be open minded. If we are in the habit of approaching situations in a certain way, we cannot simply change that attitude just because we want to. If we want to change our approach to life, we need proper training. The Buddha’s tried and true method for rising above the defliements of the mind (greed, anger and delusion), is a meditation practice called Vipassana in Pali or Insight Meditation in English.
Using this method, we train the mind not to get caught up with craving or anger. By simply observing what is happening in the present moment, we can open up a world of possibilities for ourselves. We can raise ourselves up above our difficulties to get a birds eye view of the path towards happiness. Achieving satisfaction then becomes a matter of walking the path that we have illuminated.