The Three Afflictions: A Tale of Cancer and the Quest for Understanding

Once upon a time, in a world filled with bustling research labs, there was a curious mind who spent countless hours trying to solve one of the greatest mysteries of all time: cancer. The more they delved into the subject, the more they realized that despite all the breakthroughs and advances, it was like chasing a shadow—an "unknown-unknown" that seemed to slip away just when it was within reach.

But one day, as they sat in a quiet moment, nursing a cup of coffee (probably too much coffee, if they were being honest), a thought came to mind. What if the answer to understanding cancer wasn’t solely in the unknown? What if it also had something to do with the "known-known" that we often overlook?

In that moment, a word popped into their mind: Tapatraya. It was an ancient concept, one that described three afflictions that all living beings face: ādhyātmika, ādhibhautika, and ādhi-daivika. Could this ancient wisdom help shed light on the cancer puzzle?

So, the journey began, not to chase the elusive unknown, but to explore the well-known afflictions that might be contributing to the cancer problem.

1. ādhyātmika (The Inner Battle)

The first affliction was ādhyātmika, the inner, habitual, and acquired factors that affect the body. These are the carcinogens we invite into our lives, knowingly or unknowingly, like the unhealthy snacks we can’t resist, or that extra cup of coffee we depend on to fuel our productivity.

Take, for example, the classic "comfort food" dilemma. Picture someone who has a habit of indulging in junk food after a stressful day. They might not realize that this simple habit—reaching for that bag of chips or that sugary soda—could be slowly increasing their risk for cancer. It’s like the little habits that sneak in and quietly take their toll, like the ādhātma—the inner affliction we all face when we give in to convenience and pleasure over health.

It’s as if cancer sometimes thrives not on the big, dramatic actions, but on the little repeated choices we make—like having one too many slices of pizza just because the Wi-Fi is down.

2. ādhibhautika (The Outside Forces)

Then, there’s ādhibhautika, the affliction that comes from external forces—the environmental factors that are out of our control. These are the natural carcinogens that surround us every day: the pollution in the air, the harmful UV rays from the sun, or even the strange chemicals that somehow make their way into our food.

Consider the example of someone who works in a bustling city filled with smog. Every morning, they walk out the door, oblivious to the microscopic pollutants they breathe in. Or think about those who work with industrial materials without proper protection, exposing themselves to hazardous chemicals daily. These are the unseen enemies of cancer, lurking in the environment, influencing our bodies without us even realizing it.

We’re all at the mercy of the forces around us, whether it’s the natural world or the technological world that can introduce new, unpredictable risks. It’s like walking through a storm without knowing which raindrop might carry a harmful touch.

3. ādhi-daivika (The Unseen, Mysterious Forces)

And finally, we come to ādhi-daivika—the most elusive affliction. This one speaks to the hereditary and idiopathic causes of cancer. Sometimes, no matter what we do, cancer seems to strike for reasons beyond our control. It’s as if it’s in the genes, passed down through the ages like a family heirloom, or perhaps it strikes for reasons that are simply too mysterious to understand.

Imagine someone with a family history of cancer—perhaps it’s been passed down through generations, from great-grandparents to grandchildren. Despite living a healthy lifestyle and avoiding the common risk factors, the disease still shows up, as though fate has decided to cast its shadow.

It’s the wild card of the equation, the part we can’t predict or prevent. Cancer appears, seemingly at random, and we are left to wonder if there is some unseen cosmic force at work.

The Reflection:

And so, in that quiet moment, it became clear. Cancer wasn’t just a problem of chasing the unknown. It was also about understanding the "known-known" factors that contribute to it. The little things we do, the forces we can’t control, and the mysterious, random factors that seem to defy explanation.

In the end, while the world of cancer research might never fully unlock every mystery, one thing was certain: by understanding the three afflictions—ādhyātmika, ādhibhautika, and ādhi-daivika—we could start to build a more holistic understanding of the disease, one that balanced the known with the unknown.

Perhaps, in this balancing act, there was hope—not just for solving the puzzle, but for making better choices in the journey of life.