# “There is no problem in the Middle East”

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-macmillan-no-problem-middle-east
- Themes: problem solving, acceptance, worry
- Life situations: terminal illness, overwhelming problems, things beyond your control, insults

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Asked during the Six-Day War about 'the problem in the Middle East', a British Prime Minister (Ajahn Brahm says Harold Macmillan) replies there is no problem: “a problem is something with a solution” — and there is no solution, so it can't be a problem.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

the famous story of the Prime Minister of Britain many years ago, Harold Macmillan, who was interviewed during what was known as the six-day war between Israel fighting Jordan, Syria, Egypt and I don’t know who else but a lot of countries. It was called the Six Day War. One of the beginnings of the difficulties in that part of the world and this journalist interviewed the prime minister and the first question was, what is your view about the problem in the Middle East? To which the Prime Minister replied without hesitation. Sir, there is no problem in the Middle East. What do you mean said the journalist, there's the war on as we speak, people are blowing each other up, bullets are flying all over the place people are dying. There's a war on. What do you mean there is no problem in the Middle East? To which this Statesman said very calmly. "Sir, a problem is something with a solution," there's no solution in the Middle East. Therefore it can't be a problem.

## Teaching point

If there is a solution, give it everything; if there is none, it isn't a problem — stop wasting energy on it.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

Whoever really said it, the line is useful: a problem is something with a solution. If you can do something about a worry, do it wholeheartedly. If you truly can't, it isn't a problem to chew on, and you may set it down. Sorting worries this way frees a lot of energy for what you can change.

## Source

- [What to do when everything falls apart | by Ajahn Brahm | 18-05-2012](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe4gks2rAGg) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 44:13 to 45:34: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe4gks2rAGg&t=2653s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Peace Is The Highest Happiness | Ajahn Brahm | 2 May 2008](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jYrr952vbg) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 21:48 to 23:17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jYrr952vbg&t=1308s
- [Problems and Solutions | Ajahn Brahm | 30 Oct 2015](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivjWh2yuumk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 11:24 to 13:28: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivjWh2yuumk&t=684s