The Buddhist tradition is one that recognises conflict as a common part of the human predicament and has developed both spiritual and practical guidelines to assist in resolving issues. This begins with the understanding that before one can work at resolving a conflict, one should identify and examine the source of the problem. Often the source of the problem is obscured, preventing clarity about the real issue in question. Buddhism teaches that at the core of suffering is ignorance. This is often the root of conflict. It follows that in order to address a dispute one must have an understanding of the various causes that underlie the difficulty.