(Minghui.org) Illness is a part of life, but we often do not know where it comes from. According to modern medicine, non-infectious diseases are caused by a combination of factors such as genetics, environment, and life style, while infectious diseases may happen when pathogens such as viruses and bacteria enter our body. But there are some alternative explanations, especially in ancient China. Here are some examples.
An Ulcer That Could Drink
Lu, an ancient Taoist, accidentally killed an elderly servant when he was 17. Later on, an ulcer grew on his foot with an opening like a mouth and a tongue in it. Whenever the ulcer opened its mouth to talk, Lu would feel excruciating pain.
One day, the ulcer said it was the servant that Lu killed years ago. It also asked for food and could swallow grease or liquor that Lu fed it. After drinking liquor, the ulcer’s “mouth” would turn red.
One year passed and the ulcer told Lu it would leave. “The karmic debt is paid off,” it said. “Tomorrow you can ask a woodcutter to treat this illness.”
The next day, Lu followed the advice and went to see a woodcutter.
“How dare you come to see me?!” shouted the woodcutter at the ulcer, “I will deal with you tonight.”
He then left.
That night Lu dreamed of a deity dressed in golden armor, who gave him medicine and told him how to take it. Lu followed the instructions and the ulcer was healed shortly after.
Temptations of Fame and Material Interest
Chen Wuda, also known as Zhi Xuan, was a renowned monk in the Tang Dynasty. He once met another monk who was ill with ulcers all over his body. Because of the filthy smell of the ulcers, people all avoided him and only Chen tirelessly took care of him. Upon his recovery, the monk warned Chen that he would experience tribulations at a later time, but he could go to Pengzhou (in today’s Sichuan Province) and find help next to two pine trees in a temple on Chalong Mountain.
Later on, Chen was well respected by Emperor Yizong (who reigned from 859 – 873). The emperor often visited him and honored him with a precious agarwood seat.
As time continued, an ulcer was formed on Chen’s knee that resembled a face with an eyebrow, eye, mouth, and teeth. The ulcer could even consume any food fed to it. After seeking medication without success, Chen went to Chalong Mountain and found two pine trees in a temple. Then he saw the monk whom he had helped before. The monk told him to clean the ulcer with spring water from the mountain.
The next morning, Chen went to the mountain spring not far from the temple. Right before he was about to scoop up water to clean the ulcer, the ulcer spoke, “Wait! Have you read Han Shu (Book of Han)?”
“Yes, I have,” replied Chen.
“Then you must have read about how Yuan Ang had wrongly killed Cao Cuo,” the ulcer continued. “You were Yuan Ang and I was Cao Cuo.” Cao Cuo (200 – 154 BC) was a loyal advisor to Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty. Officials led by Yuan Ang convinced Emperor Jing to execute him.
After being wrongly killed, Cao had been looking for opportunities for revenge. “But in the past 10 generations, you were monks who observed the precepts diligently and I couldn’t harm you,” the ulcer said to Chen. “This time, you have become corrupted – favor from the emperor made you become attached to fame and material interest. That was how I could finally get my revenge. Now the Venerable Kanaka will clean me with samadhi water and our karmic debt will be over. I won’t bother you anymore,” the ulcer continued.
Chen then cleaned the ulcer area with the spring water. It was so painful that he fainted. Upon regaining consciousness, he found that the ulcer was gone. As he looked back, the temple was nowhere to be found.
From then on, Chen cultivated on the mountain and never left there. He also wrote several articles describing this story and thanking Venerable Kanaka.
After being cleansed by Venerable Kanaka, Cao’s resentment was removed and he also began to cultivate.
Universal Values
Lin, a Falun Dafa practitioner in China, also experienced something similar two years ago. Falun Dafa is a mind-body cultivation practice based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
One day, Lin noticed a coin-sized lump in her left armpit. It was a little hard with a raised centre that appeared whitish. After some time, a black dot developed in the centre of the white area. Once when reading Zhuan Falun, the main teachings of Falun Dafa, Lin realised this lump could have some karmic relationship with her in history.
She said to the lump kindly, “I am a Falun Dafa practitioner and all my cells are assimilated to the universal values of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
“This is not the place for you,” she continued. “Please leave and remember that Falun Dafa is good and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.”
Two days later, Li noticed an egg-sized red circle appearing around the lump. The area inside the red circle then began swelling.
“You have stayed here for two years now. Please leave in three days,” Lin said. “When you leave, please take all the bad substance with you. Now, let us recite together ‘Falun Dafa is good’ as well as ‘Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.’”
That midnight, pus came out in that lump with a filthy smell. Yellowish pus continued the next morning. Lin also pulled out something three centimeters (one inch) long with the diameter of a chopstick. Its surface was smooth like fish flesh. Then the lump shrank. One day later, the opening was closed and a scab formed. One week later, everything returned to normal.
“The power of compassion is huge. It can dissolve all conflicts,” Lin explained. “It can bring us kindness, warmth, and peace. That is why I highly recommend Falun Dafa to everyone.”
(Clearwisdom)