Root, branch, and leaf

Photo by Emma Gossett on Unsplash

Traditional Chinese Medicine sees pain and issues of the body and mind as disharmony.
Thus the treatment principle is always to restore harmony.
Yin and yang in balance.  Mind, body, spirit unified.  Internal and external harmonious.

We speak of the root, branch and leaf of disease or imbalance.
The leaf is what is easily seen, felt and described.
It seems to be the problem. 
In Western symptomatic medicine, the leaf is oft chased and placated.

Careful study, observation and searching is our only path to the branch or root.
Cutting off the leaf leaves the branch.
Removing the branch does not destroy the root.
Another branch and leaf will form eventually.

It takes time and effort to destroy the root.
This same principle applies in our society.
If one takes the time to carefully observe.

What are the motivations of leaders who seek to manipulate us?
What do they stand to gain? Where are their actions and rhetoric leading us?
What is the root?