Humanity's problems are actually quite simple. We tell ourselves, as societies and individuals, stories. These stories contain our identities, and how we identify others. It doesn't seem so simple bc we like complicated stories, where you can really lose yourself in the drama of it all and forget who you really are (God is such a drama queen). You can change your story at any time, or choose to "opt out", as it were, and "become enlightened" by not truly indentifying as any particular thing/idea on a fundamental level. Your poverty or wealth - story; depression, anxiety, anger issues - most often stories; I'm right, you're wrong - story; etc... The real problem is two fold: conditioning (which includes various types of belief systems) and afflictive emotions.These are based, ultimately, on fear, which is rooted in ignorance- which, in part, generates the whole story-telling process in the first place. If we wish to have any lasting measure of true peace and freedom on the planet, these things must be addressed, or we could at least create better stories. I mean, I know suffering feels so good and all, but I think consistent joy is a better and healthier bet - not to mention just as attainable. This is also what Gandhi meant by "be the change". Change your story (identity), change your life, and the world simply reflects that
