Can diseases be cured with the power of the mind ?

Dr. Most Venerable
Mirisse Dhammika Nayaka Thera

There is a great power in the mind and the thoughts. This mind is extremely pure at the time of its inception. The rebirth consciousness is remarkably pristine at the moment our inception happens. After that, it deeply clings upon unwholesome qualities such as greed mess that approach externally on various thoughts and forms defilements. This makes the mind adulterated according to the Buddhist philosophy, it is explained that a person has an adulterated mind when his thoughts, words and actions implement based on greed, hatred and delusion, forming unwholesome qualities. This state of mentality is surfacely considered as mental diseases, mental sicknesses, unwholesome thoughts, filthy behaviour, bad characteristic features and committing adultery. This state acts upon feelings perception and formation while showing through consciousness . This is the result of delusion based on the lack of knowledge that things are formed as a result of conditions and in return, things ease to exist when the conditions fail to exist. The detrimental consequences of the future activities in the delusioned mind in return, will emerge through RupaSkanda having physical unhealthiness – being sick. This analization is one side of physical and mental sickness.

As a result of the formation of the body, various diseases emerge and they are explained in the GirimanandaSuthra diseases in the eye diseases in the ears diseases in the nose diseases in the toungs diseases in the body and sicknesses in the head. In addition to that, life threating diseases such as diabetes, cancer and paralysis are also addressed in this suthra. As a summary, sickness of bile, sicknesses as a result of phlegm, diseases as a result of the imbalance of air, diseases as a result of seasons, diseases as a result of unwholesome behavour, diseases as a result of karma done are mentioned.

The above mentioned short description which is based on diseases people get, can be further sumerisedas below. Our body is created with four primary qualities such as Pathavi (hardness), Apo (fluidity), Thejo (the heat element) and Wayo (the wind element). Diseases are formed when equality proportioned primary qualities get imbalanced. Mainly, the increase or the decrease of the amount blood, variations of the atmospheric temperature and the wind are the basic causes of various diseases. The some condition is also formed when the exposed to injuries as a result of external mishaps.

Our issue arises, when we think whether these diseases, which emerge due to various causes, can be cured by mind power and determination. According to Buddhism, the mind has an enormous power. The mind monitors and determine the thoughts, words and actions. As the mind determines thoughts, words and actions. As the mind determines thoughts, words and actions, when mind gets defiled with greediness, hatred and delusion in return, the thoughts, words and actions too get defiled.

On the other hand, when the mind becomes pure, without defilements, the thoughts words and actions become pure. Without defilements, the thoughts, words and actions get refine and pure. This is explained as ‘Pithimanassa, Kayo passambathi,’ when the mind is in a state of tranquility, the body too becomes calm. Hence, what should we do to cure the diseases? If mindfulness and thoughtfulness is properly sustained, extreme greediness in mind, anger, impatience, fear and suspicion can be compressed, weakened and diminished. For this, it is needed, even upto some extent, to understand the true nature of life as shown in the early stages of Buddhism ‘Jathipidukka, Jarapidukka, Wiyadipidukka, Marannapidukka.’ The birth, the disintegration of the body, sickness and death are considered as natural phenomena. No person is able to escape from these. If these are somehow controlled or felt temporarily, yet at the end, in front of these facts, all the humans become utter failures. With this understanding, even for a short time, we have to seek for external treatment in the appropriate way at the relevant situations to make our body survive for a maximum period of hundred years.

Apart from this, you can bless our ownself by refraining your mind from defilements such as greed, hatred and delusion while engaging in different thoughts. One can determine that he be well and that he is going to be well. With the above understanding, while getting externally treated, it is important to involve in mental concentration; from the mind into a state of being firmly fixed (Samadiya), giving prominence to compassion and loving kindness. This should be done by you to yourself. It is significant to keep the mind healthy while treating the sick body.

We can understand through many Suthra such as Rathanasuthra, Moa Pariththasuthra, ChandaPariththa, SuriyaPariththa, DhajaggaPariththa and BodjangaPariththa, how the Buddha helped by showing how human body can be cured by the proper concentration of the mind and consciousness. However, the Buddha advised that it is necessary to get medication externally in an appropriate way at the relevant time. This is shown in the BhesajjaKandakaVinayaPitakaya.

What should we understand from this? We ought to utilize our body while living. While understanding the existence of life and the true nature of our body, we have to take medications when the body is down with sicknesses. However, it is inappropriate to take action making our mind existed, frantic and frightened while giving prominence to various beliefs. The Buddha blessed Prime Deegau by. Further, the Buddha made young Chaththa to be faithful on the Triple Jem. That was because of some inevitable karmic result which is being generated as consequences of an unwholesome act done by him in one of his previous births. One who has a good character and a virtuous mind can bless anybody. The person who is receiving the blessings also should have a good character and a virtuous mind. Yet, diseases should be treated by taking external medications and medical advice. It is mentioned that the physician Geevaka treated the Buddha. We should keep in our mind not to mess up the power of mind and the process of day to day activities but to engage in our activities with proper understanding.