QUESTION:

If we have minor illness like Dengue fever, what, in a Buddhistic way, can we do for ourselves?  If our friends have the diseases instead, what can we do to help them?  Some of these minor illnesses can be depressing too. Compared to the Christian they can just pray to the God and share their problems and ask for help from him.

ANSWER:

Whether contracting dengue or other illnesses, minor or serious, we must make the effort to see and accept these happenings as conditions or as part of a resultant from our previous unwholesome kamma first.  By this understanding we accept the illness equanimously without complaining, then hopefully we recover faster. If we get depressed and feel irritated over our misery, such unwholesome state of mind will produce unwholesome energy and vibes that make our health even worse. And we suffer both mentally and physically.

Or we can use compassion meditation to heal ourselves. I would like to relate to you my experience and show you how I healed my sickness by arousing compassion for other’s pain and suffering.

On one occasion I was at Los Angeles, conducting a meditation retreat. One night, I woke up due to a severe abdominal pain.  I tried to contemplate impermanence of the pain, but the pain appeared to be so permanent. I had to moan in pain.  At that moment, I felt a strong sense of compassion, thinking that even with my powerful mental strength, this pain was difficult to bear, how about others with weak mind? Moved by the compassion, I started to think of others’ suffering rather than mine. A very sincere wish aroused in my heart: May all sentient beings be free from the pain that I now endure. I wished this again and again. As my mind was busy engaging the wish for others be free from the pain, my focus on my own pain became less. After a short while, a miracle happened.  I fell asleep under such severe pain without my expectation, and woke up the next day with only a faint discomfort in the abdomen. I was amazed at the healing power of compassion, wishing others to be free from the pain I endured!  This was my second time experiencing the healing power of compassion.

Having learnt this method, one of my pupils applied it and shared her experience with me. She had injured her back many years ago and have been using pain killers on and off since then. One night, the back pain was so severe that she couldn’t sleep. She sincerely repeated “may all beings be free from the similar pain that I am facing”. The pain amazingly reduced and disappeared after a while.

Another pupil’s story – Despite her making sure that her teeth were properly managed before she traveled overseas, three of her teeth started to give her troubles by the second week of holidays. When one very painful episode arose while on a train, she silently did compassion meditation. Deep from her heart she wished that those who had toothache or any pain in any parts of the body be free from mental and physical suffering. After a while, her toothache subsided and went off. This was an amazing experience for her that Dhamma is powerful if you have faith in it.

Likewise, if the sick is our friend, we can share the above method – compassion for others and oneself-with them.  We can also radiate loving-kindness to our sick friend from time to time, wishing him/her joy and happiness , be free from mental suffering, free from physical pains and discomfort, and may he/she have a speedy recovery. We can do this before him or her, or wherever we are. It will be even better if we can invite a group of dhamma friends to radiate loving-kindness together to her or him. That friend may ‘receive’ or ‘feel’ the good vibes we send! This is because according to abhidhamma, the energy that radiated from our loving mind can travel and produce soothing effect on other people. We also can bring some inspiring recorded talks for them to listen.

Another way is to recite the Bojjhanga sutta to them. When Ven Kassapa was sick, Buddha recited Bojjhanga sutta to him and he recovered from the sickness. So too to Ven. Moggalana. Thus it is good to learn the Bojjhanga sutta first before we do this.

In order to divert the sick person’s attention from the physical and mental suffering, it will be good if the sick himself or herself can recite mentally the 9 attributes of the Buddha to arouse faith and joy.

The adage ‘Mind over Matter’ stands true in many aspects. There’s a story about a chiropractor, Dr Joe, who was badly injured when a speeding truck hit him from behind while he was partaking  a triathlon cycling event. The devastating accident left him with six compressed vertebrae. Doctors recommended spine surgery but he still might be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Refusing to end up in that kind of living, Dr Joe tried unconventional methods.

He began to shift his mindset towards positive thinking and visualizing his spinal cells and other tissues healing and reconstructing. He would have also done beneficial action in terms of proper nutrition and physical care. But he strongly believed what helped him recovered was his mind’s rewiring and reconditioning. After a period of such mental manifestations he could walk after 10 weeks and go to the gym after 12 weeks.

Well, how far this story is true is secondary.  More and more studies in neuroscience and quantum physics are pointing towards the ability of our mind or consciousness to influence cellular healing and well-being. We just need to cultivate more positive mind like loving kindness, gratitude, compassion and equanimity.

Sayalay Susila, 18-8-2023