The 83 Problems Sutra: A Buddhist Parable

Frank Miles (frankmiles.com), Seth Auberon, Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly UPDATED

Farming leads to problems (euractiv.com)

WHAT'S A SUTRA? A sutra or "discourse" is a suture -- threading together ideas with a single through-line. It's the Dharma stitched up and strung together like strings of pearls.

There is no need for new sutras -- unless, perhaps, they encapsulate the historical Buddha's message in novel ways. Mahayana does not do that, so much as they promote the Vedic views of ancient Brahmins (Hinduism). They, however, do not warn they are doing this. As strange as it sounds, it all goes back to the Monkey King going West.

• What travelers and spiritual seekers brought back to China from their journeys west to India was Vedic Brahminism, which had by the time of the "Journey West" supplanted the historical Buddha's Dharma, which we can call Early Buddhism. (Mahayana teaches made up sutras but calls them real?)

Here's a spellbinding albeit apocryphal discourse that begins very eloquently:

Thus have I not heard. Once while the Buddha was staying near the fields, a farmer came to him, greeted him and, sitting respectfully to one side, said:

"O, great teacher, I am but a simple farmer! I love farming. But sometimes there is drought, at other times flooding.

"I am a husband. I love being married. But sometimes my spouse is indifferent, at other times smothering. I am a father. I love being a father. But sometimes my children are dull, at other times exciting... What am I to do?"

The Buddha looked at the farmer with great compassion, extended both hands, and said: "Sorry, I can't help you with those kinds of problems."

The farmer was dumbfounded. He regained his composure and tried to argue:

"Wait a minute! People speak in praise of you everywhere. People come to you seeking advice for all sorts of things. And they go away enlightened. You're famous!"

"Sorry," the Buddha repeated, "what can anyone do? Every person has 83 problems. I'm not keen to help them with that."

"Well tell me," the farmer asked exasperated, hoping to make the best of his visit, "what can you help me with?"

"I can help you with your 84th problem."

Thank you for helping me solve my real problem.

"Oh, my '84th'? And what's that?" the farmer said as he leaned in.

"Your 84th problem is your desire not to have any problems."

The farmer was overjoyed. And the Buddha taught him how to overcome disappointment/suffering.  Source  (Original)