Root Cause Analysis

while preparing for RCA program, I could not convince myself about the term "Root Cause". May be heuristic, but I find this term misleading. You see a tree, which has roots deep in the soil. So if you uproot tree, you see root. So what? then does it mean that by uprooting a problem you will see its roots? what we really find is the seed of the problem which got proper environment to grow and yes it has grown menacingly. but in the process seed is lost. what you have is tree above ground and roots deep in the soil. suppose we stop all nourishment to the problem, will it vanish? shall keep on thinking every day. Today I completed one page from Dyaaneshvari. I understand it when I read it, after that what happens?