Chapter 24, 25

Chapter 24: Curing sicknesses

The Tathagata then says to the Bodhi upholding goddess, you should listen carefully. The Tathagata will now speak to you about the vows of the 10000 devas.

Goddess, in the past, countless eons ago, a Buddha appeared in this world, with the name of the Treasure Heritage Tathagata, sufficient with the 10 appellations. After that Tathagata had entered Nirvana, and the pure Dharma had vanished, in the similar Dharma (trong giáo pháp tương tự) there was a king called Independent Heavenly Light, who always used the Dharma to teach and convert his people, just like parents towards their children. In the kingdom there was an Elder called Sustaining Water (Trì thủy), who was well-versed in the practice of a doctor, a medicine practitioner, knowledgeable of the 8 methods. He was capable of curing anyone who suffered from the imbalance in the 4 elements.

Goddess, the Sustaining Water Elder had a single son, called Flowing Water. He was good-looking, upright and serious; everyone likes to behold him. He is intelligent by nature, able to consummate all kinds of reasonings and techniques. At this time, in the kingdom there were many who came down with sickness (epidemics); they suffered so much that they no longer wish to live. Goddess, when the Flowing Water son of Elder saw this, he generated the mind of great compassion, and thought like this. There are so many who suffer! My father is knowledgeable in medicinal practice, skillful in the 8 practices; he is capable of curing all sicknesses, which are caused by the imbalance of the 4 elements. However, my father is old and weak now. Wherever he goes, he requires support, how then can he go to towns or villages to cure the people of their sickness? If that is so, many seriously ill people are helpless. As such, I will now go to the place of my father, the great doctor, and ask him the method of curing sicknesses. Once I know that method, I will go to towns and villages to cure others, and bringing peace and joy to them. When the Elder has thought so, he immediately travelled to his father’s place, bowed down to his feet, held the palms together respectfully and stood to one side. He spoke the following verses.

Pray father please consider my situation

I want to help others

As such, I wish to ask you about medicinal practices

Please speak to me about this.

Why is there a fault in the body,

And an imbalance among the 4 elements

And a when do sicknesses arise?

How should one eat to enjoy good health?

How to maintain the heat (flow?) within the body?

There are four kinds of sicknesses in human

Wind, heat, phlegm, and also a mixture of these 3 (amalgamation)

How can these be treated?

When does the sickness from the wind arise?

When is there a sickness from (excess) heat?

When does the sickness of the phlegm come under influence?

And when is there the sickness of the 3 (combined)?

When the Sustaining Water Elder has listened to his son, he replied using the following verses.

I will speak to you

About the methods of curing sickness

(Passed down) From the ancient (traditional) practice

 You should listen carefully to help others

There are 3 months of spring

3 months of summer

3 months of autumn

3 months of winter

That is the method of categorizing in one year

Speaking of 3 months at a time (each)

As for the weather, there is a period of 2 months each

And there are 6 periods in one year

1 and 2 is the period of flowers

3 and 4 (March. April?) is the period of heat

5, 6 is the period of rain

7, 8 is the period of autumn

9, 10 is the period of coldness

11, 12 is the period of snow

One should distinguish it as such

And give medicines accordingly,

Depending on that period and season

One regulates what one eats

So as to digest (the food) in a healthy manner

And thanks to this, no sicknesses will arise

When the climate changes

The 4 elements will shift and become imbalanced

If one does not take medicine

Then there will be sickness

If a doctor knows about the 4 seasons,

And the 6 periods,

The 7 parts of the body,

He will not prescribe wrong.

The seven parts of the body are

Taste, blood, flesh, fat, bones, marrows, brain

Knows that the sickness enter the 7 parts

(which part is affected?)

And whether a cure is available

There are 4 kinds of sicknesses:

Sickness pertaining to the wind, heat, phlegm

And a mixture of the 3

One should also know when these sicknesses arise

In the spring, the sickness of phlegm arises

In the summer, sickness of the wind

In the autumn, sickness of heat

In the winter, sickness from the combined factors (the 3 above)

In the spring, one should eat hot and spicy food

In the summer, eat fat, hot, salty and sour

In the autumn, eat cold, sweet and fat

In the winter, eat bitter, fat and sweet

In such 4 seasons, one should eat

And take medicines according to such tastes

And no sickness will arise

After having finished one’s meal, (Sau ăn bịnh do đàm)

Sickness of the phlegm will arise

When one digests food, (ăn tiêu bịnh do nhiệt)

Sickness of the heat will arise 

After digestion, the sickness (caused by) wind arises

One should know these sicknesses as such

Having recognized the roots of the sickness

One then prescribe medicine accordingly

If the nature of the sickness is different

One should still cure the root of the sickness

If it is sickness pertaining to the wind,

Then use oil and cream

For sickness of heat,

It benefits excretion

For phlegm, use transformation and earth

 (hóa, thông, thổ)

As for the mixed, apply all three

Since winds, heat, and phlegm are all present

As such it is called mixed.

Even if one knows the time the sickness starts

One should still investigate the roots of it

Have made clear these factors

One then proceed to prescribe medicine according to time

Eat, drink, medicine, without fail

Only then can one be called the great doctor

Also, one needs to know the 8 methods,

Which encompass all methods of remedy

If one knows these 8 methods

One will cure a person’s sickness

The eight methods are: acupuncture

Operation (dissect), curing the sickness of the body

Curing the sickness of the mind, or poisons

A center (department?) for the young, and one for the old

And last of all, maintenance of good health (dưỡng sinh) (taiji, qigong…?)

First of all, observe the forms and colors

And then manners of speech, characters

After that, ask for dreams

Then one can know which type of sickness

If one appears thin, dry (without water), having few hairs

The mind is also constantly shifting

Speak a lot, and having dreams of flying

This belongs to the category of wind.

If one is young, yet have white hair

Having much sweat, easily-angered

Intelligent, often dreaming of fire

This belongs to heat

If one’s mind is stable, and one’s body is straight, upright

(Having the habit of) Considering matters carefully

And one’s head is greasy, often dreaming of water

Or a white substance

This belongs to phlegm

As for the mixed, they share the same characters

Of either 2 or all 3

And whichever factor is major

One considers it as “mixed”

Know the roots, and the characters of these sicknesses

Inspect the sickness and prescribe medicine

But only when one sees no signs of death

Is one certain of being able to cure that sickness

The signs of looming death are

Having disrupted, scattered senses (6 senses)

Despising the good doctors

Angered when seeing a close friend

These are the ones.

The left eye turns into a white color

The tongue becomes black,

And the nose bone is slanted

The flesh surrounding the ears is not the same

The lower lip is lowered and protrude.

Use Halela of one kind (harītaka)

Which has all 6 tastes

Capable of curing all sickness

It is the king of medicine, which does not counteract

(other medicine)

Also take 3 ba cay fruit-

Which is an easily available herb

Sugar, honey, milk

Can also cure many diseases.

As for other medicinal herbs

One adds these in depending on each individual sickness

But first of all, one must have compassion

Do not seek for reputation or fortune

I have spoken about these matters

Which are essential to know and cure sickness

Learn this and cure others

You will have immeasurable mass of merits

Goddess, at this time, the Flowing Water son of Elder himself asked his father about the 8 methods, about the increase and decrease of individual elements (among the 4), about opposite (conflicting) weather, about the methods of prescribing medicines. Having learned this thoroughly, the elder consider himself capable of curing all sicknesses. He then travelled to various towns and villages, wherever there is a patient. He consoled them and said, I am a doctor, I am a doctor, I am well-versed in the craft of curing sicknesses. I will cure you all, and render you healthy again. Goddess, at this time, when the people have heard the Elder’s consoling, and promise to cure their diseases, all the seriously-ill patients were cheered up, attaining a rare form of bliss. As a result, all their sickness vanished, they enjoy great strength (and regulated energy flow), and they recovered. Goddess, at this time, there were also those who are gravely ill, and they arrived at the place of the Elder to ask for more treatment. The elder immediately prescribed medicine, instruct them to take the medicine, and everyone was cured. Goddess, in this manner, the Flowing Water son of Elder managed to cure all patients in the kingdom.

Chapter 25: The story of Flowing Water

The Blessed One says to the Bodhi Upholding goddess, daughter of the lineage, in the past, the Flowing Water son of Elder had cured for numerous patients in the kingdom of the Free Light king, helping all of them to recover, and enjoy great bliss. At this time, since they were free from sickness, they committed to doing many virtuous deeds, widely practicing the offering of wisdom, and derived joy from that. Together, they went to the place of the Elder son’s, and respectfully said: How benign, great Elder’s son. You are skillful at cultivating merits and increasing roots of virtues. You bring us bliss and longevity. You are truly a great doctor, a compassionate bodhisattva, skillful at learning medicines and curing sicknesses. Such praise abounds the whole village and town.

Goddess, the Elder has a wife called Fortified Water Body, and 2 sons, one called Satisfied Water, and the other, Water body. When the Elder brought along his two sons on a walk, passing by an empty swamp, in a very deep and dangerous place, he saw that all kinds of animals are flying and running to one direction. He wondered why these beasts run to one direction. And thus, he followed them, and he saw a great lake, named Beings living in the Wild, which is about to run out of water. In that lake, there were many fish. When he saw this, he generated the thought of great compassion. At this time, there was a god who appeared in half of his form, saying, how benign, child of the lineage. If you are really Flowing Water, then you should pity these fish in the lake and give them water. You are called Flowing Water for 2 reasons, one is making the water flow, and two is that you offer water. You should do according to (the meaning of) your name. The Flowing Water son of Elder asked the god, how many fish are there in this lake? The god says, exactly 10000. Goddess, when he heard this number, he grew even more sympathetic (towards these fish). The lake was also under the sun, and there was not much water left. The 10000 fish were nearly dying; they swam and swirled about slowly. When they saw the Elder, they appeared to show some hope, and looked at him constantly, without shifting their eyes. When he saw this, he ran to the 4 directions to look for water, yet could not find any. When he looked sideway, he saw a great tree; immediately, he climbed up that tree, broke the tree’s branches to use as shade. After that, he went away to look for the origin of the water in this lake. He found out that it was a great river called Bearing Water. At this time, by the river side, he saw many fishermen, who wished to catch some fish; as such, they looked for a vital spot of the upper course of that river and directed the flow of the river (irrigate) to other directions, not letting the water flow down to the lower course. The spot that they had dug to irrigate the water was indeed hard to refill in time. He thought, this water here was deep, even hundreds of thousands of people can hardly fill it up, even for the duration of 3 months, and there is no need to speak of me, alone. The Elder immediately returned to his palace, travelled to where the king was and, with his head, bowed down to the feet of the king, and stood to one side; he then respectfully held the palms together and said: I have cured the illness of the people, and made everyone quickly recover. Just now, when I travelled to an empty swamp, I saw that the Wild Beings Lake had nearly dried up. The 10000 fish in that lake were shone by the sun, and they were on the verge of death. Pray Your Highness, please think about this and allow me 20 great elephants to bring water to that lake and save their lives- just as I have saved the lives of many sick people.  When the king heard just that, he immediately ordered the great minister: you, quickly grant this king of medicine great elephants. The great minister obeyed, and said, Elder, Benign one, you should yourself visit the elephant cages to select 20 great elephants to help you benefit sentient beings. The Elder, together with his two sons and the borrowed water skins, travelled to the place where the water was irrigated, and load the bags of water on the elephants to be brought back to the Wild Beings Lake, and fill it up. And the water (lake) became full again

Goddess, at that time, when the Elder walked near the 4 edges of the lake and looked about, he saw that the school of fish also follow him, swimming near the edge of the lake. He thought, why do fish keep following me? Perhaps they are hungry, as such, they followed me for food. I should give to them. He said to his two sons: take the strongest elephant and quickly return home and say to your grandfather- whatever is edible in the house, including your food, the food of my parents, or servants’, please gather and bring them here. Following his father’s advice, the two sons rode the strongest elephants and quickly travelled to talk to their grandfather: pray gather whatever is edible and put them on the back of the elephants. They then quickly returned to their father, who was waiting by the side of the lake. When he saw his sons return, both his body and mind were jubilant, and he took the food and scattered them all over the lake

Goddess, when the fish have eaten the food, he again thought, today I have offered food to these fish, may I offer the Dharma to these fish in the future lives. He also thought, in the past, when I passed by a wild forest, I heard a monk recite the great Vehicle Sutra, which spoke of the profound Dharma which is the 12 causes of arising. That Sutra also mentions, if any sentient beings, on the verge of death, hear the name of the Treasure Heritage Tathagata, they will born among the devas. Today, I should speak about the twelve profound causes of arising for the fish, and also chant to them the name of the Treasure Heritage Tathagata. Among those who abide in the great Jambudvipa, there are two kinds, one who sincerely and thoroughly trust and believe in the great Vehicle, and there are those who despise, and do not believe. I should initiate and nurture the belief for people like this. He thought: I should now enter the lake to speak about the profound Dharma to the fish. Having thought just so, he entered the water and spoke out loudly: Namo the great Treasure Heritage Tathagata who has entered Nirvana, the Tathagata, Arhat, Unsurpassed, Perfect and Complete Buddha, Knower of the world, The one who Perfect all Light, the one who has entered Nirvana, Tamer of beings to be tamed, Teacher of human and devas. The Treasure Heritage Tathagata in the past, while doing the deeds of a bodhisattva, had this vow: In the world in the 10 directions, any sentient beings who are on the verge of death, and are able to hear my name, they will be reborn to the Heaven of the 33. The Elder then speak of the miraculous Dharma to the fish. That Dharma is: if a phenomenon arises, another will follow suit, if a something is born, another will be born as a consequence, thus, when ignorance is born, acts (hành) will follow, even for birth; if being born is born, old age, sickness and death will also be born; when a phenomenon is empty (nothing), the other phenomenon will also be empty, when something is destroyed, the other thing will also be destroyed, as such, one says that when ignorance is eliminated, acts (habits) will also be eliminated, even for birth; if being born (birth) is eliminated, old age, sickness and death will also be eliminated. And as a result the pure and ultimate heap of suffering and torment will be destroyed altogether. When the Elder has spoken of this miraculous method, he also spoke the mantra corresponding to the twelve causes of arising: Tadyatha vicani vicani vicani samscani samscani samscani bhisini bhisini bhisini svaha, satini satini satini svaha, sprsani sprsani sprsani svaha, tadyatha vedani vedani vedani svaha, trsni trsni trsni upadhini upadhini upadhini svaha, tadyatha bhavini bhavini bhavini svaha, tadyatha jatini jatini jatini svaha jammanini jammanini jammanini svaha.

At this time, when the Tathagata has spoken to the assembly about the old story of the Flowing Water son of Elder, the human and devas all commend that it is indeed very rare, not having happened before. The four Heavenly kings stand up from their seat, with different mouth yet the same speech, say as followed:

How benign, Blessed One!

You have spoken the mantra of the miraculous Dharma

Which creates merits and destroy wickedness

And corresponds to the 12 limbs

We will also speak of a mantra

To protect that wondrous Dharma

Whoever is against that mantra

And not skillfully learning to follow (it)

His head will break into 7 parts

Just like the branch of an orchid

Towards the Tathagata

We will now speak that mantra:

Tadyatha hirini gate gandhari candari dhiri jamvare sihibhare pure pure gugumati khiramati dadhimukhi laurubha murubha kucamurulante duru duru duru virya aidhisi dadheve dadhave ustri ustravati ansaprahati padmavati kusumavate svaha

The Tathagata says to the Bodhi Upholding goddess, goddess at this time, when the Flowing Water son of Elder and the 2 sons have given the fish water, food, and speak of the Dharma to them, chant to them the name of the Tathagata, they returned home. After that, they had a meeting, and, having listened to much music, they fell to sleep under the effect of wine (spirits). As for the 10000 fish which died together and were reborn to the Heaven of the 33, they think, which virtuous roots of virtue do we have, such that we are reborn here in Heaven? They said together: before, when we were still fish living in the Jambudvipa world, the Flowing Water son of Elder had given us water to live and food to eat, he also spoke to us about the miraculous method of the 12 causes of arising, and the corresponding mantra, also chant the name of the Treasure Heritage Tathagata. Thanks to this factor, we are reborn up here. Now, we should travel to where the Flowing Water son of Elder is and make offering to him to repay his kindness. The 10000 devas immediately disappeared from the Heaven of the 33, and travelled to the place where the king of medicine was. At this time, he was still sleeping on a high platform (room). The 10000 devas’ sons take a string of 10000 pearls to place on his face, another on his feet, another on his right trunk, another on his left trunk; they also scatter mandala and great mandala flowers on him, forming a great heap of flowers up to his knees, their light shining forth everywhere, and wondrous heavenly music was played, awaking everyone in the great Jambudvipa world from their sleep. The Elder also woke up. After they have made those offerings, the 10000 devas hovered in the air and flew away. They scattered heavenly lotus all over the kingdom of the king Heavenly Free Light. They also arrived at their old place- the empty swamp, and scattered down various heavenly flowers. And then, they disappeared, and returned to their heavenly palaces, enjoying great bliss at will. In the morning, the king Heavenly Free (Unbounded) Light asked the great ministers, for what reason was there the good sign, which is great light projecting brightly last night? The great Ministers say, you should know, these are all the work of the devas who arrived at the house of the Flowing Water son of Elder and offered 4 strings of pearls to him, each string having 10000 pearls; they also scattered heavenly mandala flowers up to his knees. The king said to the great minister: go to the house of the Sustaining Water Elder and call forth the Elder son Flowing Water here. The great ministers obeyed, and bring along the king’s request, saying that the king summons you. He quickly came to the king’s place. He asked, for what reasons was there such a rare phenomenon last night? He says, in my opinion, it is definitely due to the fish in the lake, who, just as what is said in the Sutra, have been reborn in the Heaven of the 33. They came to repay the kindness; hence, such a strange and rare phenomenon occurred. The king asked: how do you know? He spoke, may His Highness command a messenger to follow me to that lake and make an appraisal about the situation, whether the fish are still alive or they are dead? When the king heard so, he immediately commanded a messenger and his two sons to go to the lake. When he arrived there, he saw that there are many mandala flowers, all stacked into great heaps. The fish were all dead. When they have seen this, they return and described what they have seen. When the king has heard about it, he was greatly rejoiced, commenting that it is indeed rare

The Tathagata says to the Bodhi Upholding goddess: goddess should know, Flowing Water the son of Elder in the past is now the Tathagata. The Sustaining Water Elder was the Gentle Garland bodhisattva. The two sons of the son of Elders, the eldest- Satisfied with Water, is now Silver Garland, and the younger son Water Body is now Silver Light. And the king Heavenly Free Light is today you, the Bodhi Upholding goddess. The school of (10000) fish are today the 10000 devas here. Since the Tathagata gave them water to live in, food to eat, and also spoke to them about the twelve profound causes of arising for the fish, the mantra corresponding to that methods, and also chant for them the name of the Treasure Heritage Tathagata. Thanks to this root of virtues, they were reborn among the devas (and keep being born as devas). Today, they came to the place of the Tathagata and joyfully listened to the Dharma, and the Tathagata makes a prediction that they will attain Unsurpassed Enlightenment, and also tells them their future name (as Buddhas). Goddess, in the past, even when I was in cyclic existence, the Tathagata still benefits sentient beings in a great way (universally helping them). Towards countless sentient beings, the Tathagata gradually makes them attain the Unsurpassed Enlightenment and makes a prediction of them. You should do as the Tathagatas do; you need to pray for (the attainment of) liberation, do not be indulgent.

Everyone in the assembly, having heard the Tathagata say just so, understands that one needs to use great compassion to help all sentient beings, and also undergo arduous activities to attain the Unsurpassed Enlightenment. Everyone make (and initiate) profound vows, and joyfully accept what the Tathagata teaches.