Abstract
In our modern society, considered as the most advanced in human history, we benefit from extensive medical knowledge and its rapid distribution. However, individuals suffering from mental and neurological disorders still lack significant relief. Faced with these complex challenges, it seems that scientists have hit a roadblock in their understanding. Progress in comprehending mental and neurological disorders, both in theory and clinical practice, has been limited over the years.
When conventional medical treatments fail, Dharma Master Jun Hong Lu suggests that the ailment may have karmic origins, involving spiritual aspects as well. In Dharma perspective, such karmic afflictions often find resolution through dedicated Buddhist practice.
To substantiate Master Lu's teachings, we have selected 3 cases of major depressive disorder (MDD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and cerebral palsy (CP) for examination, exploring the causes of these diseases and the impact of Buddhist practices on the well-being of these patients.
The results indicate that through Golden Buddhist Practices, MDD, ASD, and CP can generally be treated effectively.
Introduction
In the modern era of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence and the development of artificial brain chips, human cognition has ironically become a major concern, especially considering the widespread prevalence of mental and neuro-associated disorders. According to the World Health Organization, MDD is the single largest contributor to loss of healthy life. While psychotherapy, medication, or a blend of both are accessible treatments for depression, some individuals encounter treatment-resistant depression, and there is no universal solution for everyone [1]. A most recent review paper stated that ASD is a lifelong disability without a cure [2]. CP is a lifelong condition with no cure, presenting diverse challenges such as motor impairment, epilepsy, and mental health disorders [3]. Other mental and neurological disorders, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, anxiety, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis also lack definitive solutions. While researchers are actively investigating potential treatments, progress appears to be limited.
Medical science posits that human life is orchestrated by cells, which specialize into various tissues, organs, and systems. While focusing on the biochemical composition of life, scientists primarily direct their research toward understanding the interactions among these bodily components. Despite significant progress in molecular-level understanding, current methodologies still fall short in addressing practical challenges. This deficiency becomes especially pronounced when dealing with conditions like mental and neurological disorders, where the existing theory falters and therapeutic interventions often prioritize symptom management rather than addressing underlying causes. Such circumstances suggest that contemporary scientific approaches may be flawed both in theory and application.
Buddhism presents a unique perspective on human existence distinct from that of medical science. According to Buddhist teachings, a person comprises two essential components: the body and the soul. While medical research focuses on the body for diagnosing and treating ailments, the soul remains beyond the reach of scientific investigation. In Buddhist philosophy, the soul, is the driving force behind the body's actions. Just as physical ailments arise when the body is affected, disturbances in the soul can also lead to illness. In cases of mental and neurological disorders, it is believed to stem from the soul's inability to govern the body effectively. Essentially, the body is influenced or controlled by a soul or more souls other than the individual's original soul. However, since the soul is intangible and invisible to most, its existence often goes unrecognized.
While medical science defines brain death as the end of human life, Buddhism perceives death as the commencement of a new existence. When the soul departs from the physical body, the body decays, while the soul transitions into a spirit (often referred to respectfully as a "ghost") and embarks on a new journey of life. This spirit has 10 potential destinations: Hell, the Hungry Ghosts, the Beasts, the Humans, Asuras, Heaven, the Sravaka, the Pratyekabuddha, the Bodhisattva, and Buddhahood. The destination is determined by the individual's conduct during their lifetime, including both good deeds and bad deeds they did. Good deeds are termed positive karma, while bad deeds are termed negative karma (negative karma is generally called as karma), and these determine the realm to which the individual belongs.
Unfortunately, upon death, the souls of most individuals journey to the underworld. There, they face judgment by the ruler of the underworld. Some are condemned to Hell, become Hungry Ghosts, reincarnate as animals in the Beasts realm, or reincarnate as humans in the Human realm. Many linger in the underworld as wandering spirits, where perpetual darkness shrouds most of the day. Few find solace in such a place and seek opportunities to ascend to higher realms. If individuals in the Human realm owe these spirits debts, the spirits may attach themselves to their bodies to settle karmic debts under the supervision of underworld officials. There are regulations governing the initiation of their possession, often coinciding with significant milestones in the individual's life, such as when their age contains digits like 3, 6, or 9 (e.g., 3, 6, 9, 13, 16, 19, etc.). Once attached to a human body, various disruptions may occur as they interfere with the original soul's natural course. If the spirit affects the brain or nervous system, it can lead to mental and neurological disorders. This overview reflects the teachings of Dharma masters, particularly Master Lu.
Individuals afflicted with mental and neurological disorders often carry significant karmic burdens. These burdens may stem from past lives, ancestral karma, and actions undertaken in the current lifetime. Consider a child diagnosed with ASD. How might such a young soul accumulate such weighty karma in their present life? For instance, if the child's parents celebrate their birthday with a feast involving the slaughter of numerous sea creatures, the karmic consequences are absorbed by the child. These karma may initially manifest as minor disturbances in humans, but they can escalate significantly when triggered by specific factors, such as reaching ages associated with karmic manifestations like 3, 6, or 9. At these critical points, a spirit may capitalize on the opportunity to inhabit a child's body.
Once the soul departs the body, the spirit gains complete awareness of the events that transpired during its lifetime. For instance, if a child falls ill from birth and incurs significant expenses, it may be karmic retribution from a past life. In this life, the child came for settling karmic debts owed to them. Similarly, if a grandmother provided extensive care to her grandson before passing away, it could result in the child owing karmic debts to her, potentially leading to the grandmother's return to settle those debts posthumously.
According to the theory of Dharma, familial bonds are intricately tied to karmic debts, suggesting that family members are brought together for a purpose. Without this karmic affinity, the formation of a family would be deemed impossible. Following death, spirits may return to collect outstanding karmic debts from their family members. Consequently, it is not uncommon to find instances, as noted in Master Lu's totem readings, where individuals suffering from mental disorders are occupied by their deceased relatives.
When a doctor treats a patient, they typically employ medication to address physical ailments, whereas Dharma approaches patient care by aiming to elevate the spirits from the body. Once the spirits depart from the patient's brain, their own soul returns to govern the body, leading to the restoration of normalcy.
The above discourse addresses the causes of mental illness theoretically, but its practical applicability requires scrutiny. We will examine its validity through three cases: MDD, ASD, and CP.
Case 1. The Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door rescued my child from MDD
I am Zhang, a Buddhist practitioner from North America. Today, with immense gratitude, I wish to share with the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva, all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Master Lu, all the Dharma protectors, and fellow practitioners, the miraculous events that have occurred in my child's life over the past 3 years after I practiced the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door.
In January 2015, with the assistance of the local Buddhist practice group leader, we established a Buddhist altar in our home. My husband and I began practicing the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door.
In the preceding decade, my child suffered from eczema, with lesions primarily affecting the joints of the limbs and ankles. Symptoms would temporarily alleviate with medication only to recur later. Due to the skin condition on her legs and feet, my child refrained from wearing skirts for many years. After practicing the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door for 1.5 months and offering 200 Little Houses for her karmic creditors, the cracking and swelling on her legs and feet disappeared, and her skin became smooth with a slight tinge of red. The efficacy of the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door was truly miraculous! Its effects were incredibly rapid! We were overjoyed! The complete healing of the skin condition solidified our faith in this Dharma Door, believing that the Three Golden Buddhist Practices will resolve all our family's troubles and problems.
The second illness my child faced was depression. During her high school years, she found it extremely difficult to get out of bed every morning. She described feeling as if a mountain were weighing down on her. Initially, we attributed this to the heavy workload and stress of high school courses. Throughout high school, she completed a total of 13 college preparatory courses, often staying up until around 1 a.m. to finish homework, then waking up at 6 a.m. for school band rehearsals. As she progressed into college, her depressive symptoms became more pronounced. She became withdrawn, spoke less, showed little interest in personal grooming, and experienced extreme fatigue both physically and mentally. Eventually, she developed a tendency to oversleep, requiring >30 hours of sleep on weekends, indicative of hypersomnia. Unfortunately, we, being negligent, failed to recognize these symptoms as signs of a potentially incurable illness according to current medical standards.
It wasn't until the summer of 2010 when she attended a bioinformatics summer program at a state university organized by a US institution, that she exhibited extreme lethargy and reluctance to attend classes. Concerned, she visited a doctor who diagnosed her with depression. Reflecting back on her symptoms over the past few years – fatigue, oversleeping, social withdrawal, constipation, and despondency – we finally realized that she had been struggling with depression for many years. Her constipation led her to avoid staple grains, opting instead for a diet heavy in vegetables and fruits. Extended periods of raw carrot consumption had left her complexion pale, and she was constantly melancholic, unable to muster enthusiasm for anything. How could she complete her college education under such circumstances? What kind of future awaited her? Would she even survive? Our family was engulfed in endless worry.
Since being diagnosed with depression, she embarked on a long journey of medication. While the medication provided temporary relief from her mental distress, it did not address the underlying issue – treating the symptoms rather than the root cause. What worried us most was the fear of her reaching a breaking point. According to reports, individuals with depression are about 30 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population. Therefore, when we heard about accidents happening at her school, our hearts trembled with fear and anxiety. We mourned for the students who had taken their own lives and worried deeply for our own child. Our daughter was studying far away, enduring the torment of illness while striving to complete her college coursework, fighting the disease alone. Every day felt like walking on the edge of a cliff. We desperately wished to help her. I turned to the internet to learn about depression, attempting to share cheerful stories during our phone calls. In those days, our only wish was for our child to stay alive. Our family felt as though we were living in a hell on earth.
When we were fortunate enough to encounter the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, it was like a refreshing rain after a long drought! Our previous feelings of helplessness and despair instantly transformed into a powerful motivation for reciting Buddhist scriptures. I recited for >10 hours every day. From February 1, 2015, to March 15, 2018, over the course of 3 years, my husband and I collectively offered >2600 Little Houses for our child's karmic creditors; we didn't keep count of the fish released, and >20 vows have been fulfilled. At the end of March 2018, our child called from out of state to tell us that she had been completely off antidepressants for 2 weeks without any discomfort. After enduring years of suffering, gratitude overwhelmed me, and tears flowed down my face. It was Guan Yin Bodhisattva and Master Lu who saved us! It was the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door that saved our entire family!
The compassionate light of the Bodhisattva and Master Lu will forever accompany us. In May 2016, our child graduated from graduate school but struggled to find employment afterward. My husband made a vow in front of the Buddhist altar to the compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva: "As your disciple, I, [his name], will transfer all merits and virtues earned from volunteering at the Singapore Dharma Conference to my daughter, [her name], so that she may find an ideal job. May she be blessed with the ability to apply her knowledge, become self-reliant, and grow into a valuable member of society." Meanwhile, I diligently recited Little Houses for her karmic creditors, helping to alleviate her karmic obstacles. Just 5 days after my husband returned home from the Dharma Conference on February 22, 2017, our child received a job offer aligned with her professional aspirations!
Before practicing the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, we would anxiously await our child's phone calls every day, just to ensure she was still alive. Yet, each time we spoke, the first words from her were always "tired." Now, she, full of vitality, shares with us only joyful news. In August, 2018, she independently completed a project, saving the company $1.5 million, for which she received special commendation from her employer. To date, six years have passed, and she has never fallen into depression again.
In the years of following Master Lu to practice the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, we have come to understand that suffering from depression is karmic in nature. The root cause lies in the accumulated negative karma from past and present lives, including ancestral karma. My husband's grandfather frequently hunted, resulting in his premature death, and causing mental illness in my husband's eldest uncle. My husband was born and raised in the countryside, where his parents raised various animals, such as sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, and geese, thus accumulating a significant amount of negative karma from killing. This karma eventually manifested in his father's death from cancer and his younger brother's mental illness. Further, during our child's primary and middle school years, my husband, while engaged in medical research, killed many laboratory animals. The collective karma of the family, combined with my husband's individual karma, manifested as depression in our child. Now, both my husband and I have made vows: from now on, we will refrain from killing and consuming meat.
After practicing the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door >3 years, both my husband and I have witnessed our child's physical health restored, her finding a satisfying job, and her career flourishing. This once again proves that even without Master Lu’s reading of my daughter’s Totem, as long as we faithfully follow the His teachings and apply the Three Golden Buddhist Practices accordingly, our aspirations can still come to fruition.
Buddhist practitioner: Zhang, Gratitude and Namaste!
2018-10-08
Case 2. Autistic children can really be saved by grasping this opportunity!
I came into contact with Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door in 2012 when I was pregnant and had an unexpected miscarriage. I was very depressed. By then, Buddhist practitioner Li came to transform me. She sent me some information about the harms of miscarriage. Although I didn't believe in it 100%, I thought it wouldn't hurt to recite some Buddhist scriptures. I started using my commuting time to do my daily recitation and recite Little Houses. At that time, I didn't intend to read Buddhism in Plain Terms, and I didn't listen to Master Lu's recordings. I didn't want to let my friends know I believed in Buddhism. After reciting Buddhist scriptures for a while, I felt some effects. My allergic rhinitis, which had not been cured for 20 years, had obviously improved. Thus, I continued to recite Buddhist scriptures, and I also released many lives every month.
At the end of 2012, I got pregnant again. My parents came over to care for me. When they realized that I had vowed to be a vegetarian for 2 days a month, they objected to it. They advised me not to be a vegetarian for the sake of the baby. Hence, I violated my vegetarian vow in the latter part of my pregnancy and during breastfeeding. They stewed pigeons and fish in soup from time to time to provide me with "nutritious food”. I foolishly thought this would be healthy for the baby and ate them all. In retrospect, I realized how costly it was to break a vow. I broke my vow and ate meat for my child, so how could the child be well?
Within a month after my child was born, I found out he had an umbilical hernia, a hemangioma, and colic. When he was older than a month, I found out he had severe eczema. When he was 100 days old, he had rotavirus diarrhea. He has diarrhea >10 times a day. He had to be hospitalized and given fluids to recover. In summary, he was in a constant state of discomfort. I started reciting Little House to his karmic creditors, but only a dozen or so until he turned 1 year old.
In April 2015, when he was 1.5 years old, I found that his intellectual development was obviously much slower than that of other children. He didn't pay much attention to what he was told to do. When he wanted something, he banged his head against the wall if he wasn't satisfied immediately. I searched the Internet to find out what the problem with banging was. I saw an article that said banging is one of autism's manifestations. I clicked on it to see how many symptoms were consistent with those described therein. I was so scared that I told my husband. At first, my husband said I was just worrying about it. After he did a search on his own he stopped talking. We immediately made an appointment to take him to the hospital.
On May 4, 2015, we traveled to Fudan Children's Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Shanghai, China. Test results indicate that his intelligence is only 8 months old, he has a developmental delay of 1 year, and he is highly suspected of autism. The doctor said something that I still remember vividly: "This child will not have a future, so you parents should be prepared for that." I was in tears on the spot. My child was only 1.5 years old. How could he be judged for the rest of his life?
Unwilling to give up, I sought information online. The more I searched, the more desperate I became. At that time, I really felt there was no way to live. I would cry bitterly at the sight of any child on the road. Then I stopped searching for information and logged on to Master Lu's blog every day to read His teachings and fellow practitioners' sharing presentations. I read them over and over again. Then I said to myself, "It doesn't matter, I still have the Dharma. Since so many practitioners have created miracles through the Dharma, why can't I create one?" After half a month of depression, I picked myself up and started to walk on two legs. On the one hand, I planned the number of Little Houses to recite every day, vowing 1,000 Little Houses for his creditors. On the other hand, I traveled with my husband to find a rehabilitation center to intervene.
The night before we set up the Buddhist altar in the house we rented next to the rehab center, I had my first dream about Master Lu. He was in a tall pagoda reading totems for us. He said to me, all your difficulties are just temporary! Certainly, everything will get better. This dream gave me much confidence.
Now >2 years have passed, my son is >4 years old, and he has been in kindergarten for >3 months now. The teacher's comments on him: "When entering kindergarten he can take the initiative to greet the teacher, raising his hands in class is very active, outdoor activities he likes to cooperate with friends, he can apologize for doing something wrong, seeing someone crying he will go up to comfort. Many children say he is their closest friend. " I was moved really to tears.
In the following, I would like to discuss my understandings and lessons I have learned from practicing Buddhism in the past few years:
1. Pay off your debts and eliminate karmic obstacles during the smooth time. First of all, I came into contact with Buddhism before the onset of karmic obstacles. I am deeply grateful to the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva and practitioner Li who transformed me. Although I didn't know much about Buddhism at the beginning, it saved me when I went through the biggest shock of my life. Like many parents of autistic children, I had thoughts of suicide. If I hadn't stayed in front of the computer every day to read Master Lu's blog and presentations from Buddhist practitioners, I might have done something irreversible. It was the Master and fellow practitioners who gave me great courage. Hence, any practitioners in trouble should also have this faith. Since there are so many practitioners who have created miracles through Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, why can't we do the same? In addition, I recited some Little Houses to myself before the outbreak of my karmic obstacles. I also insisted on releasing lives. When I started to recite Little Houses to my child, his stagnation period was shorter, approximately 300 Little Houses resulting in obvious progress. Therefore, please don't wait until your karmic obstacles explode before practicing Buddhism. Instead, pay off your debts and eliminate karmic obstacles during smooth times.
2. I realized how heavy my karma was after practicing Buddhism. Before learning Buddhism, I always thought I was a good person who deserved a good reward. However, after learning Buddhism, I realized how heavy my karma was. My parents owned a restaurant when I was young, so my ancestors' killing karma was already very severe. I never stopped eating chicken, ducks, and fish as a child. Furthermore, I only ate the best part of everything. In my school days, I loved to read romance novels, and then I read internet novels, so I had a very heavy sexual karma. When I was pregnant, I broke the precepts and violated the vow for the sake of my baby. My child has been punished by retribution for the wrongs I have committed. If I hadn't studied Buddhism, I would have continued further down the wrong path. Now I know that I have to detach myself, keep the precepts, let go, learn not to create new karma, keep eliminating old karma, pay off small karmic debts, and have faith in the future even though it is very difficult now, which is the most worthwhile thing I should be doing.
3. Difficulties and adversities are contributory conditioning power. Although I encountered Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door in 2012, I didn't practice very seriously when things were fine and well. At that time, practitioner Li who transformed me, talked to me several times about setting up a Buddhist altar and becoming a vegetarian. However, I didn't do it because I thought it would be too difficult to do it. I didn't dare imagine being a vegetarian forever at that time. Although I vowed to be a vegetarian 2 days a month, sometimes I forgot to do so, and this was strongly opposed by my family. Now I am overcoming my introversion and lack of self-confidence. I transform sentient beings on street. Every difficulty pulls me towards the right path. Every firm step I take in Buddhism is made possible by my child. Please cherish the Buddha's affinity that adversity brings to us.
4. The only way I can save my child is to practice Buddhism and never slack off. To learn Buddhism, we need to read more books by Master Lu, read more blogs by Master Lu, listen to more recordings by Master Lu, and watch more shared stories by fellow practitioners. The more you understand the principle of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, the easier it is to persevere. Although the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door has given me many efficacious experiences, I still have doubts and have slacked 2 times in the past 2 years.
The first time I slacked off reciting Buddhist scriptures happened in 2017. At the beginning of 2016, in order to train my child well, I attended some seminars and read some books on intervention. They said that the ages between 2-6 years old are the children's golden time. In order to achieve better results, parents must seize every moment to communicate with children and intervene. This made me skeptical about reciting Buddhist scriptures. I spent all day reciting Buddhist scriptures without much communication training with my child. Would it miss the golden training period? With this thinking in mind, I began to slack off reciting Buddhist scriptures. Consequently, my child soon regressed, forgetting the things he had learned at the rehab center. I learned from this painful experience and began to recite Buddhist scriptures diligently again, and soon he made progress again.
The second time I slacked off reciting Buddhist scriptures happened from January to April 2017. Because apart from reciting Buddhist scriptures, I also did intervention programs for my child as stated above. He had been consistently making progress. At that time, I thought that his progress was due to the treatment programs and not to my reciting the Little House. Once again, I slacked on reciting Buddhist scriptures. From January onwards, the Little House recitation almost stopped. In mid-May, we did a test, and the results were bad. Many indices were at a standstill or regressing. The test results showed he was still mildly autistic. I was very frustrated!
It was just then, I received a phone call from the Australia Oriental Media (because I had made a reservation the year before for Master Lu to read my child’s totem). Master Lu enlightened me that my child needed 1,350 Little Houses. So far, my child's creditors received 800 Little Houses (at the time, I recited 1,300-1,400 Little Houses for his creditors). So, I needed to recite 550 more Little Houses. As a result of the test report from doctors and the enlightenment from Master Lu, I had to reconsider the relationship between Buddhist intervention and rehab interventions. I finally woke up that only Buddhism could save my child, and that all other therapies are, at the most, just icing on the cake. If taking away the root of reciting Buddhist scriptures, other treatments can only alleviate some of the child's symptoms at best. In other words, rehab interventions will not be able to make him normal.
To date, I have repaid all of the Little Houses Master Lu has revealed to me about my son's debts. From May to August, his change was subversive. At the end of May, during the kindergarten interview, he pooped in his pants, rolled around on the ground, and did not answer the teacher a question (I was afraid that the teacher would see that something was wrong with him, but the teacher didn't care, which I believe it was the Buddha's blessing)! On August 20, when the teacher visited me, he improved a lot. His behavior was very pleasant, almost normal. Additionally, he was previously found to have severe allergies to many foods that affected his intelligence. He fasted on those foods all the time. His entry into kindergarten made me very concerned. After he started kindergarten, he was no longer allergic to many foods except for a couple of them. Now, we let him eat freely. No obvious regressions or emotional problems occurred. Everything has been arranged for me by the Bodhisattva perfectly!
Now I look back on the experience of these 2 years, although I arranged him a lot of various so-called scientific treatment programs, every time he made great progress, is when I recited Buddhist scriptures very diligently, every time he has stagnation or even regression, is when I slacked off. There were also many times when I recommended my child's very effective scientific treatment program to my non-Buddhist friends. No one found it to be very effective when they tried it. It worked for me, but not for my non-Buddhist friends. Isn't this Buddha's blessing for my child? That I was able to achieve 100% or even 200% effect in every effort that I made to help my child is because of Buddha's compassionate blessing! Dharma is the foundation!
5. Little House quality is more critical than quantity. At the beginning, to catch up with the number of Little Houses, I recited 5-7 sheets a day. The Great Compassion Mantra was reduced from 50 seconds to 45 seconds and to 35 seconds per recitation. The Heart Sutra was also reduced to about 20 seconds long per recitation. When I talked to fellow practitioners, I was complacent that I could recite more Buddhist scriptures in the same amount of time. Although some practitioners dream that my Little House quality was problematic, I have not been concerned. In May this year, when I received Master Lu's call, I had already recited >1,300 Little Houses. However, Master Lu said that my child’s karmic creditors had only received 800 sheets. Since then, I have taken it seriously. Later, when I checked the Buddhist scriptures, I found that I had missed words in both the Great Compassion Mantra and the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra. I hastened to recite the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance 27 times to repent of these wrongdoings. In fact, I found that catching up in quantity wasn't worth the effort. Good quality Little Houses would have been more efficient.
6. Please emphasize the power of propagating the Dharma via our experiences. A while ago, I called the Australian Oriental Media. The fellow practitioner who answered the phone gave me an example after understanding my situation. A mother of a child with CP was very diligent in helping her child recite 2,000 Little Houses. However, the child did not change much. She then stepped out onto the streets to transform people into Buddhists. She found that her child made progress every day. The practitioner of Australia Oriental Media told me to not only recite Buddhist scriptures but also transform sentient beings. Propagating the Dharma has greater merits and virtues than reciting Buddhist scriptures. In November, I began using the Internet to convince sentient beings to practice Buddhism with my experiences. It was amazing to me that my child had become more agile. All three of his teachers have given me feedback from different perspectives on how much he has improved over the past 2 weeks. Buddha is so compassionate. As long as we make a bit of effort, we will receive more rewards. I will continue to propagate Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door and use my own personal experience of Buddhism to help more sentient beings believe in Buddhism and persevere in practicing Buddhism.
Dear fellow Dharma practitioners, if you encounter the Dharma in good times, the Dharma can help you reduce or even eliminate the thorns that you may meet in the future so that your life can be smoother; if you encounter the Dharma in adversity, the Dharma can fundamentally change the adversity that you are now in; if you are uncertain, doubtful, confused in the process of practicing the Dharma, please persevere for a little while longer, and the Dharma will give you unlimited surprises.
I hope that my sharing today can give you more confidence and courage so that we can move forward on the right path together steadily.
Buddhist practitioner: NiMing, Gratitude and Namaste!
Case 3. My CP daughter enrolled in kindergarten via Buddhism
1. My daughter was diagnosed with CP and my whole family collapsed!
I am from Anhui province, China. My daughter was born in July 2015 and was admitted to the children's ICU for 14 days due to a lack of oxygen. After being discharged from the hospital, it was gradually discovered that her neck could not stand very steadily at 4 months, her thumbs snapped inward, she could not crawl, and she had pointed feet. At 10 months, we felt that she was developing more slowly than other children, but her various blood tests and trace elements diagnosis report were all normal. What is wrong with her?
Our family chose to believe in medical science, thinking that perhaps the lack of oxygen at birth was the cause of the slow absorption of nutrition, which resulted in her slow development. It would get better as she grew up. Hence, we took a chance. Until she was 1 year old, she could only walk with support, and could not stand independently. Her fingers were rigid. At this point, our family panicked and took her to the most reputable hospital in the province to have her examined by the most renowned specialists! Until 22 months, she was diagnosed with mild spastic CP. At that time, it was really a bolt from the blue for the whole family. We never thought our beautiful baby would be linked to CP! But the truth is undeniable.
The doctor said that the child could only be rehabilitated in the hospital for a long time, and that final recovery was not guaranteed by anyone. Her recovery might take a lifetime. Oh my God, how could this happen? On the first day, I went to a rehabilitation hospital. I ran up the stairs and couldn't stop crying. My husband and I are both loyal and honest people who never intended to harm anyone. My mother-in-law is also extremely kind and helps people around her. My father-in-law is timid and honest and has never done anything bad despite his mediocre life. My parents divorced early, and my mother died early. Although my father did something wrong, he himself has been retributed, and he cannot be considered an evildoer. How did my child become CP? I cried until my heart was exhausted, but I couldn't figure it out.
However, I had to accept reality even though it was painful. We started on the road to recovery. After about a year of rehabilitation, the results were not ideal because she still could not walk. I was anxious. Our whole family visited major hospitals to see expert doctors.
None of the doctors could tell me clearly whether my child could return to normal. A senior rehabilitation therapist even told me that my child could never return to normal. She said I should accept the fact and stop imagining my child could be healthy. Because encephalopathy is a neurological problem in the brain, no one in the world can cure it. No way! After hearing her words, I felt drenched in ice water from head to toe. My heart was so cold I couldn't say a word. Perhaps that is despair!
Nevertheless, I didn't believe my child would never walk or recover. I thought there must be a way I could save her! So, I looked up cases, prescriptions and means to cure CP online every day.
2. Bodhisattva is compassionate and transformed me into a Buddhist
Perhaps it was at the Bodhisattva's mercy that I was not abandoned. After searching the Internet for half a month, I finally came across a case: a child with CP was cured by Buddhism and finally admitted to school! As a result, I contacted the author, Lian, an extremely dedicated Buddhist practitioner of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. Unfortunately, my karma was too deep and my mind was blinded by foolishness! At that time, although several diligent practitioners explained to me Buddhism’s texts, I was not moved! Even after watching Master Lu's videos for a few days, I was still half-convinced!
A few days later, I had a special dream. Just after I fell asleep, I saw my soul slowly rise and turn around 3 times horizontally in the air. At that moment, Guan Yin Bodhisattva, dressed in white and sitting cross-legged on a lotus flower, slowly approached me from a distance. Guan Yin Bodhisattva then showed me a movie. The first one was a terrible image of my child's arms and legs shriveled and deformed, and her condition became more serious. Then, Guan Yin Bodhisattva showed me the 2nd image, which is my child's current mild state. After watching it, I immediately knelt down and kowtowed to the Bodhisattva and made 3 vows:
1. Practice Buddhism and recite Buddhist scriptures properly from now on.
2. Be a vegetarian on the 1st and 15th days of the Lunar Year every month.
3. Perform life liberation for my child monthly!
After I made the vows, Guan Yin Bodhisattva did not say anything and slowly floated away and disappeared!
I saw myself stand up and then slowly lie down. My soul returned to my body. In the last moment of the soul entering my body, another image of my daughter appeared: she is alive and happy and completely normal! Finally, I woke up from the dream. I was shocked by the dream. My mood did not calm down for a long time! It is not at all like a usual dream. I felt like I was half-asleep and half-awakened. I still think in the dream: for fear of not fulfilling the vows, I made vows that are relatively easy to accomplish!
The next day, I told the dream to a Buddhist who transformed me. The Buddhist said that Bodhisattva directed me. Bodhisattva gave me 2 choices. If I didn't practice Buddhism my child's condition might get deteriorated in the future. If I practiced Buddhism my child would get better and better. In addition, vows in a dream are counted and must be fulfilled!
Because I grew up with my grandmother believing in Buddhism, I used to go to the temple 3 times a year. I would burn incense on Guan Yin Bodhisattva's big days (editor’s note: Birthday, Enlightenment day, Renunciation Day) in the temple. However, to be honest, I was foolish at that time because I never saw Guan Yin Bodhisattva in person so I wasn't sure there was really a Bodhisattva there. On the other hand, I also dare not deny Bodhisattva's existence because humans are too insignificant. Furthermore, the dream was so real that it was not like a dream. To put it bluntly, I dare not joke about my child's health. Therefore, I half-heartedly embarked on the path of practicing Buddhism.
3. Understand cause and effect, apprehend Dharma theory, and truly repent
At the beginning, although I recited Buddhist scriptures I did not have a strong faith in the Dharma. One month later, ignorantly, I started thinking nonsense. I knew CP was a karmic disease, but I still wanted to find out the real cause of my child's illness. The Bodhisattva is compassionate and told me the cause and effect in a dream one night before Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva’s birthday. In the dream, I was a girl from a rich family. In my prime, I was once kidnapped and hijacked by a male schoolmate of my age. A group of people came to save me. They shoot each other. The boy was shot and fell to the ground. People dispersed gradually. I was rescued and could go home.
The dying boy lying on the ground asked me for help, but I was angry. I not only didn't save him but also brutally hit him with a stone in the chest and killed him instantly.
I repent! It's all karma!
In fact, a week after studying Buddhism, as I napped at noon with the portrait of Guan Yin Bodhisattva on my chest, I dreamt of a spiritual boy aged 17-18 in my daughter's body. I didn't know who it was at that time. Now, Guan Yin Bodhisattva has mercifully manifested all the karma for me! I deeply repent of having created such deep karma, for having caused such serious harm to the boy in my past life, and for having caused my daughter's illness due to my karma. I determined to practice Buddhism to repay my debt, ascend the boy, save my daughter, and redeem myself!
When I started practicing Buddhism, my child was 3, unable to stand alone for a few seconds. She couldn't go to school when it was time to start kindergarten! My wish at that time was that my baby would go to kindergarten as soon as possible!
4. I followed the Master Lu's instructions and my initial wish was fulfilled
Through the help and guidance of my fellow practitioners, and by Master Lu's instructions, I made vows, recited Buddhist scriptures, and released beings for my child during the year. She finally walked! She finally entered kindergarten on September 1 of this year when she turned 4!
Buddha's teachings are true! I am very grateful to Guan Yin Bodhisattva for Her compassionate blessing. On the first day of kindergarten, she was surprisingly well-behaved and did not cry. I saw many other normal children crying for their mothers, and even rolling on the floor. The teacher said she was fine, and she took the initiative to chat with the teacher and find classmates to play with. A little boy sitting next to her cried all the time, and she even took a tissue to wipe the boy's tears! I know this is all because of the blessing of Guan in Bodhisattva. I am very grateful to Guan Yin Bodhisattva!
It's been more than a week since kindergarten started. Kindergarten has already become a comfortable place for my daughter. She has received many compliments from her teachers, saying she is very obedient, cooperative in class, independent, and friendly with other children! Now she also learns to recite Buddhist scriptures with me. She loves listening to Master Lu's teachings. She often wants to see Grandpa Lu in person. She said she was the best little Buddhist in our family. It's so Dharma happy!
In the past, I couldn't figure out why other children were normal, but my child was special and suffered from childhood ailments. Now that I have studied Buddhism, I understand that everything we suffer in this life has a cause and effect. Cause and effect never wrong anyone! Encephalopathy is a typical karmic disease. The child's illness leads to the family's suffering, which is all caused by our karma. The only way to completely change our destiny is to practice Buddhism and recite Buddhist scriptures. This will pay off our debts and eliminate our karma. My child will slowly improve or even completely recover although she has some abnormalities in her walking posture. Her progress has been on the rise. I firmly believe that as long as I keep practicing Buddhism, the day the debt is paid will be the day my child fully heals!
The guidance of the Bodhisattva led me to discover Buddhism through my child, teaching me that fortune and misfortune are intertwined in life. Despite my child starting kindergarten one year later than others, it was through her illness that I encountered the Dharma and unearthed the invaluable treasure of my existence. Without this experience, I would likely still be ensnared by worldly desires, continually accumulating karma in the pursuit of transient pleasures. Reflecting on this, I realize the folly of such a path.
Now, how fortunate I am to have found solace in Buddhism! Life's impermanence ensures that trials and tribulations are inevitable. Yet, in encountering the Dharma and embracing the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, both my child and our family have been bestowed with an immense blessing. I vow in this lifetime to steadfastly follow Guan Yin Bodhisattva's teachings, never wavering from the path of the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. My commitment is not only to cultivate my own mind but also to spread the teachings widely, striving to alleviate the suffering of sentient beings and guide them towards happiness and liberation from suffering. I hope more new and senior practitioners will strengthen their beliefs, practice diligently, escape suffering and attain happiness, and never quit!
Presenter: Fangyuan, Anhui Province, China
Discussion
Currently, the theory and technology needed to develop treatments for conditions like MDD, ASD, and CP, and numerous other mental and neurological illnesses are unavailable. This underscores the limitations in therapeutic approaches for these conditions and underscores the urgent need for ongoing advancements in medical science and technology. Exploring alternative perspectives to address these challenges warrants careful consideration.
Dharma represents one such alternative perspective to address these issues, and the evidence demonstrates its high effectiveness.
In Case 1, Author Zhang's daughter experiences MDD. While doctors find the underlying mechanism elusive, it becomes clear to a Buddhist: spirits are involved. Despite the absence of visible signs and dream recollections, following Master Lu's guidance to ascend the spirits and alleviate the karma, the child experienced recovery, validating the efficacy of Dharma. Master Lu further elucidated that a familial predisposition to mental illness suggests a history of ancestral karma related to killing. This case serves as confirmation. While medical doctors may attribute such occurrences to genetics, they lack definitive evidence.
In Case 2, autism is caused by spirits. The author NiMing helped her son ascend the spirits from his brain and then the boy returned to a healthy state. Her son's brain becomes less occupied as the number of Little Houses repaid increases. With the passage of time, his brain is guided by his own soul for a longer period of time. Thus, his soul allows his brain to memorize more and more training material. Clinically, his progress is obvious day by day.
His doctor's words, "This child will not have a future," starkly illustrate the limitations of science when confronting autism.
The author, an astute, diligent, and rational mother, approaches her account akin to a scientist conducting experiments. Her brief lapses in practicing Buddhism twice serve as evidence supporting the notion that Buddhism cured her son, while scientific rehabilitation programs merely complemented this treatment. While scientific rehabilitation programs may address physical aspects, Buddhism focuses on alleviating karma and spiritual influences. Treating symptoms versus addressing root causes undoubtedly leads to distinct outcomes. Her narrative holds immense value for medical professionals, parents of autistic children, and anyone concerned with mental health.
In Case 3, the author's daughter suffers from CP. The Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva presented the author with two choices: to heal her child through Buddhism or to leave the condition untreated, allowing it to worsen over time. This vivid dream emphasized the validity of the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, as evidenced by her daughter's eventual recovery.
The dream of the boy she had killed in her previous life serves as a poignant reminder that the suffering we endure today often stems from our own actions. Therefore, if we find ourselves with a child afflicted by incurable diseases, it is imperative that we refrain from placing blame on others; instead, we must acknowledge and accept our own responsibility. These teachings reflect the enlightenment shared by Master Lu.
Upon summarizing the causes behind the 3 cases, it becomes evident that Cases 1 through 3 all stem from karmic repercussions associated with killing. Case 1 is linked to a history of familial killing karma, spanning 3 generations involved in the killing of animals. In Case 2, the individual operates a restaurant, particularly noteworthy if it involves selling live sea animals, as even without directly causing harm, significant killing karma accrues. Case 3 involves the author's past life incident of taking a teenager's life, highlighting the substantial karmic burden associated with killing a human, even once. Once such karma is incurred, escaping retribution becomes implausible. While retribution may not always manifest directly upon the perpetrator but upon their descendants, amplifying the pain endured, as observed in Cases 1 through 3.
In China, there's an ancient saying: "To untie the bell, the one who tied it must do it." This wisdom runs deep. Through Buddhist teachings, we come to understand that the spiritual afflictions and illnesses we encounter are the consequences of our actions in this life and/or past lives. Thus, to liberate ourselves from these afflictions and pains, self-reliance is essential. Master Lu once shared a story in the 32nd chapter of Volume 12 of Buddhism in Plain Terms [4], as depicted in the following paragraph:
“A person visited the temple to pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva. As he prayed earnestly, he noticed another person nearby also engaged in prayer. Strangely, this person bore a striking resemblance to Guan Yin Bodhisattva. Intrigued, he asked, ‘Are you Guan Yin Bodhisattva?’ Guan Yin Bodhisattva replied, ‘Yes.’ Taken aback, he exclaimed, ‘Oh my, Guan Yin Bodhisattva, why are you here praying too?’ Guan Yin Bodhisattva responded, ‘It's better to seek within oneself than to seek from others.’ This story teaches us that seeking help from others is futile. Sometimes, despite your frantic efforts and seeking guidance from me, it's futile. What should you pursue then? Look within yourself. Many people don't even bother seeking my guidance about interpreting their totems, so how can their homes be peaceful? Consider how, during every Dharma assembly I hold, numerous people express gratitude, saying, ‘Master, I'm grateful for your salvation!’ Do you understand why? It's because they have already embarked on their journey of self-redemption. They employ the three Golden Buddhist Practices of making vows, releasing animals, and reciting Buddhist scriptures, becoming their own healers, eliminating the need to call the hotline for totem interpretation.”
Conclusion
MDD, ASD, and CP are curable from a Dharma perspective by eliminating karma and ascending spirits.
References
[1] McIntyre RS. et al., 2023. Treatment‐resistant depression: definition, prevalence, detection, management, and investigational interventions. World Psychiatry. 2023 Oct; 22(3): 394–412.
[2] Doda V. et al., 2024. Policies for Individuals With Autism: Gaps, Research, and Recommendations. Cureus. 2024 Jan 8;16(1):e51875.
[3] Thomas SP, et al., 2024. The critical need to accelerate cerebral palsy research with consumer engagement, global networks, and adaptive designs. J Pediatr Rehabil Med. 2024;17(1):9-17.
[4] Jun Hong Lu, Buddhism in Plain Terms Vol 12: 32