Metaphysics Q&A 153 – Reasons for experiencing limited improvement from practice
Q153: Master Lu, I have health issues. For the past 10 months I have been practising Buddhism but my condition has not improved. Why is that?
A153:
First of all, ensure that you are performing the recitations of sutras and mantras exclusively under the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. All sutras and mantras are good, but the combination for recitation is very important. Similarly, all medicines can be effective for healing, however, if we consume every kind of medicine then the result would be undesirable. It is better to only follow the prescription given by the doctor you are seeing.
Ensure that the proper amount of Great Compassion Mantra (Ta Pei Chou), Heart Sutra (Hsin Ching), and Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance are included in your Daily Recitation. The effectiveness would be reduced with an insufficient amount of Great Compassion Mantra or Heart Sutra. If you recite the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance too many times, then you may activate your negative karmas excessively, hence exacerbating your condition.
For people with severe illnesses, reciting the Great Compassion Mantra at least 21 times per day is required, but 49 times is optimal.
For people with mental illness, reciting the Heart Sutra at least 21 times per day is required. Under normal conditions, it is recommended to recite the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance 1 to 3 times per day. People with severe illnesses can recite this 3 to 5 times per day. Please ensure that you are not reciting it more than 7 times per day, as you may activate your negative karmas excessively.
While you diligently perform your Daily Recitation, ensure that you are also reciting a sufficient number of Little Houses, which is closely related to the number of Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance that you include for your Daily Recitation. Otherwise, you may experience discomfort or an exacerbation of your condition. Generally, you would need 3 Little Houses for your Karmic Creditor per week if you were reciting the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance 3 times per day. Daily Recitation is similar to your daily expenditure, whereas Little Houses are similar to loan repayments. We all need to mindfully repay our debts.
Ensure that you are performing your recitations appropriately. Are you reciting Little Houses with a sincere and respectful mind? Are you filling in the Little Houses in the right format? Is the name correct? All of the above are important factors for the quality of Little Houses, which determines the resulting effectiveness.
Ensure that you are using the right name. If you have changed your name, please lodge the Application for Name Change first, and then perform recitations using your new name.
The effectiveness is also related to the spiritual power of each individual. With limited spiritual power, the results may not be significant. We can enhance our spiritual power by increasing the amount of recitations for our Daily Recitation.
Your attitude while you perform recitations is also very important. If you harbour doubts, complaints, and unwillingness in your mind, then the quality of your recitations would be affected.
Distracted thoughts and an unfocused mind during recitation would also affect the quality.
In the case where you are performing recitations for others while your own condition is not optimal, you may take responsibility for the karma of the other party. As a result, your recovery may be delayed. Helping others is a virtuous deed, but it is always associated with a cost. We need to evaluate and be aware of our capability when helping others.
For our prayers to be efficacious, we need to accumulate a large amount of virtues. It is recommended that you also sincerely and mindfully perform Life Liberation and make Great Vows.
If none of the above answers your question, then it may simply be because you have not done enough. For a person with severe negative karmas, it would be difficult to have dramatic changes within a short period. As we continue to diligently and persistently practise Buddhism for a period of time, positive results will be achieved.
Q153: Master Lu, I have health issues. For the past 10 months I have been practising Buddhism but my condition has not improved. Why is that?
A153:
First of all, ensure that you are performing the recitations of sutras and mantras exclusively under the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. All sutras and mantras are good, but the combination for recitation is very important. Similarly, all medicines can be effective for healing, however, if we consume every kind of medicine then the result would be undesirable. It is better to only follow the prescription given by the doctor you are seeing.
Ensure that the proper amount of Great Compassion Mantra (Ta Pei Chou), Heart Sutra (Hsin Ching), and Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance are included in your Daily Recitation. The effectiveness would be reduced with an insufficient amount of Great Compassion Mantra or Heart Sutra. If you recite the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance too many times, then you may activate your negative karmas excessively, hence exacerbating your condition.
For people with severe illnesses, reciting the Great Compassion Mantra at least 21 times per day is required, but 49 times is optimal.
For people with mental illness, reciting the Heart Sutra at least 21 times per day is required. Under normal conditions, it is recommended to recite the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance 1 to 3 times per day. People with severe illnesses can recite this 3 to 5 times per day. Please ensure that you are not reciting it more than 7 times per day, as you may activate your negative karmas excessively.
While you diligently perform your Daily Recitation, ensure that you are also reciting a sufficient number of Little Houses, which is closely related to the number of Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance that you include for your Daily Recitation. Otherwise, you may experience discomfort or an exacerbation of your condition. Generally, you would need 3 Little Houses for your Karmic Creditor per week if you were reciting the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance 3 times per day. Daily Recitation is similar to your daily expenditure, whereas Little Houses are similar to loan repayments. We all need to mindfully repay our debts.
Ensure that you are performing your recitations appropriately. Are you reciting Little Houses with a sincere and respectful mind? Are you filling in the Little Houses in the right format? Is the name correct? All of the above are important factors for the quality of Little Houses, which determines the resulting effectiveness.
Ensure that you are using the right name. If you have changed your name, please lodge the Application for Name Change first, and then perform recitations using your new name.
The effectiveness is also related to the spiritual power of each individual. With limited spiritual power, the results may not be significant. We can enhance our spiritual power by increasing the amount of recitations for our Daily Recitation.
Your attitude while you perform recitations is also very important. If you harbour doubts, complaints, and unwillingness in your mind, then the quality of your recitations would be affected.
Distracted thoughts and an unfocused mind during recitation would also affect the quality.
In the case where you are performing recitations for others while your own condition is not optimal, you may take responsibility for the karma of the other party. As a result, your recovery may be delayed. Helping others is a virtuous deed, but it is always associated with a cost. We need to evaluate and be aware of our capability when helping others.
For our prayers to be efficacious, we need to accumulate a large amount of virtues. It is recommended that you also sincerely and mindfully perform Life Liberation and make Great Vows.
If none of the above answers your question, then it may simply be because you have not done enough. For a person with severe negative karmas, it would be difficult to have dramatic changes within a short period. As we continue to diligently and persistently practise Buddhism for a period of time, positive results will be achieved.
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