An amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient on the way of recovery (中英文)

Frank

Introduction

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, multisystem neurodegenerative disease that causes the death of motoneurons progressively and eventually leads to paralysis [1]. The etiology of sporadic ALS is still unclear [2]. ALS leads to death on average 2-4 years after the onset of symptoms [3].

From the Dharma point of view, all illnesses are divided into 2 categories: physical illness and karmic illness. This classification was designed by Master Lu. Generally speaking, if a disease cannot be cured by a doctor, it is a karmic illness. For physical illness, the patient should seek help from a doctor, and for karmic illness, the patient should seek help from Dharma. When karma flares, usually triggered by some factors, the spirit(s) (a respectful name of “ghost”) will occupy the patient. Then, it becomes a spiritual illness.

Since doctors cannot diagnose the cause and cannot treat it, ALS is apparently a karmic disease. In a Dharma Q&A program, Master Lu found a spirit of dead man occupying a lady’s body because she killed a pregnant big sea turtle in her previous life as a fisherman, causing her ALS this life [4]. Thus, we can conclude that ALS is a spiritual illness.

To treat a spiritual illness, you will need to ascend the spirit(s) occupying your body. Once the spirit(s) leave your body, you will recover your health. Citta Dharma teaches you how to ascend spirit(s).

Patient Wan, female, 46 (2012), Elementary School Degree, Hubei province, China

Once I was a totally ignorant sentient being. I have committed all 4 of the 5 Buddhist precepts of killing, stealing, lust and delusion. I had two abortions, opened a restaurant for a year, and sold lobsters. I have played mahjong for over 20 years and cheated at the mahjong table in order to win money while gambling. I have committed evil acts of sexual misconduct. I have created many oral karmas, for example, breaking up my brother's marriage. The terrible thing regarding ignorance is that I was doing something that hurt me, but I did not even know it, and I thought it was normal because many people did it, so I enjoyed doing it. I did not know that good and evil would be rewarded at the end of the day.

In 2012, at 46 years old, I realized I often fell while walking, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. In 2013, I was diagnosed with ALS in a hospital in Wuhan, China. Since 2015, I have been unable to take care of myself. Attempting to treat ALS, since 2013, I have tried nearly a hundred different medications, and for 3 months, I received treatment in the most advanced hospital in Beijing. Regardless, the deteriorating condition was not controlled. My body was weak, my neck was flaccid, not firm. I could not lift my head, and I could not speak clearly either. The only thing I could do was to write slowly on the cell phone. By 2019, the condition had become worse and worse. Since the onset of ALS, my shoulders and cervical spine have been unbearably painful. I would even choke while drinking and eating. After being tortured by ALS for 8 years I became shriveled and had lost over 5 kilograms of weight. I felt as if I had arrived at the end of my life.

Heaven never blocks a man's will, and there is always a way out. I appreciate Buddha and Bodhisattva for their mercy and care towards sentient beings. In May 2020, a Buddhism practitioner who practiced Citta Dharma sent me a chanting player. This was when I started my journey to practice Buddhism reciting the daily scriptures. Perhaps because I had a strong affinity with Buddha in my previous generations, I was able to initiate and love studying the Dharma immediately from the very beginning.

Now, every morning after getting up and before starting the daily recitation, I drink a cup of Great Compassion Water, take the compound Danshen tablets, and drink a bowl of red dates, wolfberries and American ginseng juice. My daily recitation consists of: Great Compassion Mantra 49 times, Heart Sutra 49 times, Cundi Dharani 49 times, Xiao Zai Ji Xiang Shen Zhou 49 times, Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra 21-49 times, Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots 49 times, the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance Text 5 times, and Qi Fo Mie Zui Zhen Yan 108 times. Because oral karma is too heavy, to specifically eliminate it, I recite the Qi Fo Mie Zui Zhen Yan 108 times per day. I can recite 4 Little Houses every day.

In May 2021, I made 5 great vows:
1. Become a vegetarian for life.
2. Never kill.
3. Release 10,000 fish (time range was not set).
4. Recite 1000 Little Houses for my karmic creditors within 2 years.
5. After recovery, I will convince sentient beings to practice Buddhism using my experiences.
Every morning, I say the above 5 vows to Bodhisattva one time and, I also add: "I will rectify my past mistakes and will not create new karma for the rest of my life."

I am very grateful to the great Mercy of Guan Yin Bodhisattva! Twice I dreamed that Guan Yin Bodhisattva performed surgery in my head and throat to help me get rid of the pain. One day I was in a bad mood and that night, in my dream, I saw these large words "Do it even if it's hard!". I knew it was Merciful Guan Yin Bodhisattva spurring me to go on despite the odds! I appreciate the Bodhisattva for Her Great Compassion saving both my physical life and spiritual life without giving up! I am also grateful to the WeChat Buddhism practitioners for their unfailing support and help.

Compared to when I just began reciting the scriptures in May 2020, my speech speed has improved greatly, and I feel no pressure reciting the scriptures following the fast-talking version on the mobile phone. However, I still can't pronounce clearly; my speech is slurred. This may be the retribution resulting from my oral karma when I broke up my younger brother's marriage. When a man plants seeds, he should harvest what he planted. I only understood this truth after I studied Buddhism. As a Buddhism practitioner one must be cautious to avoid generating karma, particularly, do not get involved in cause and effect of others carelessly.

Although I have only practiced Buddhism for 1 year, I am delighted that my illness has been effectively controlled and the wellness of my body has improved. I have regained weight and strength. There are no atrophied muscles anymore. Now, I can stand up on my own from a stool. My tongue is also much more flexible, my throat is unobstructed, I am able to swallow, and food and water no longer make me choke. All this progress convinced me that studying Buddhism and reciting scriptures can definitely change my miserable destiny! It takes more than one day to freeze three feet of ice; it also takes more than one day to melt the ice. I don't dare to wish to fully recover immediately, because the long-standing karma from years of killing, stealing, lust and delusion cannot be eliminated overnight. As long as I keep practicing, my condition will definitely improve!

I am grateful for the disease that allowed me to enter the Dharma Door. Looking back on those days when I could not even have the strength to kill myself, my life was worse than death, just like living hell on earth. In contrast, I live a happy life today. Practicing Buddhism has not only placed my body on the road to recovery, but it has also helped me place my mind in the right place to understand what it means to be a human being. I will cherish my Buddha's affinity and spiritual life, practice Buddhism and cultivate my mind, in order to acknowledge the Buddha and Bodhisattva's grace!

Comment: Master Lu disclosed that Majiang brings unending trouble to descendants for posterity. While unable to pronounce clearly when reciting the scriptures, you are still able to follow the recorded voice to recite the scriptures in your heart. It also counts.

References
[1] Sonkodi B, Hortobágyi T. 2022. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and delayed onset muscle soreness in light of the impaired blink and stretch reflexes - watch out for Piezo2. Open Med (Wars). 2022 Mar 1;17(1):397-402. doi: 10.1515/med-2022-0444. eCollection 2022.
[2] Newell ME, Adhikari S, Halden RU. 2022. Systematic and state-of the science review of the role of environmental factors in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Sci Total Environ. 2022 Apr 15;817:152504. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152504. Epub 2021 Dec 28.
[3] Erdmann A, Spoden C, Hirschberg I, Neitzke G. 2022. Talking about the end of life: communication patterns in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - a scoping review. Palliat Care Soc Pract. 2022 Mar 15;16:26323524221083676. doi: 10.1177/26323524221083676. eCollection 2022.
[4] 《玄艺综述》2017年6月27日，时间 00:32 - 11:00

Shared by: Dharma Practitioner Wan, Gratitude and Namaste!
Translated by: Frank
2021-06-01 received
2021-07-27 Chinese version
2022-03-29 English version

Statement by Translator
1. Story was translated by meaning, not word by word. If there is anything that is not rational or in line with the true meaning of the Chinese version, I’d like to seek forgiveness from the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva, all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Dharma protectors and Master Jun Hong Lu.  
2. Author Wan was interviewed by Frank during the translation for the detailed information.

What is ALS? (CDC, page last reviewed: April 6, 2018)
Many people know ALS as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the famous baseball player who got the illness and had to retire in 1939 because of it. ALS is a disease that affects the nerve cells that make muscles work in both the upper and lower parts of the body. This disease makes the nerve cells stop working and die. The nerves lose the ability to trigger specific muscles, which causes the muscles to become weak and leads to paralysis.

How many people have ALS?
Although no one knows for sure, reports almost 16,000 people in the United States have ALS as of 2014; every year doctors tell about 5,000 people that they have it. Because records on ALS have not been kept throughout the country, it is hard to estimate the number of ALS cases in the United States. ALS is slightly more common in men than women. ALS is age related; most people find out they have it when they are between 55 and 75 years of age, and live from 2 to 5 years after symptoms develop.

What causes ALS?
No one knows what causes most cases of ALS. Scientists have been studying many factors that could be linked with ALS such as heredity and environmental exposures.

What are motor neuron (nerve cell) diseases?
ALS is one of a group of conditions known as motor neuron diseases (MNDs). ALS affects nerve cells for muscles of both the upper and lower body. ALS accounts for 85 percent of MND cases. Other MNDs affect nerve cells for muscles of either the upper or lower body. Other MNDs include progressive muscular atrophy, progressive bulbar palsy, and primary lateral sclerosis.

What is MND prognosis?
Eighty-five percent of people with an MND have ALS. Most persons who are first diagnosed with progressive muscular atrophy, progressive bulbar palsy, or primary lateral sclerosis will develop problems with nerve cells for both upper and lower body muscles. The person will then be told they have ALS.

Please kindly forward this article to those whose relatives are under sufferance of ALS
Forward this article to those whose relatives are under sufferance of ALS, you will accumulate immeasurable merits and virtues.  Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-floor pagoda！！！

Would you like to change your destiny?
We will show you how to do the five golden Buddhist practices of Guan Yin Bodhisattva Citta Dharma Door: (1) making vows, (2) reciting Buddhist scriptures (sutras and mantras),  (3) performing life liberation, (4) reading Buddhism in Plain Terms, and (5) repenting. You will personally witness how you and your family can achieve physical and mental stability, relief from illness and grievances, wisdom growth, academic progress, career advancement, and family happiness through Dharma.

Welcome to contact fellow practitioner Lily:
Email：sunnypurplelily@gmail.com
WeChat: HanJing20210820

原文如下
学佛念经，使我枯木逢春，让患有渐冻症的我走上了康复之路

顶礼南无大慈大悲救苦救难广大灵感观世音菩萨摩诃萨！
顶礼十方三世一切诸佛菩萨及龙天护法金刚菩萨！
顶礼弘法度众舍身忘我的恩师慈父LJH台长！
 
大家好，我是明天一片光明同修。我分享的题目是：学佛念经，使我枯木逢春，让患有渐冻症的我走上了康复之路

曾经的我，是一名地地道道的无明众生。佛法五戒中的杀、盗、淫、妄四样我都干过。我堕胎过两个孩子，开过一年餐馆，卖过龙虾。我打麻将有20多年，为了在赌博时赢钱，在麻将桌上作弊。我有过邪淫的行为。我造过很多口业，例如，拆散弟弟的姻缘。无明的可怕之处在于我正在做着伤害我自己的事，却不自知，还以为这很正常，故而乐此不疲。殊不知，善恶到头终有报，只争来早与来迟。
 
2012年，46岁，我走路容易摔跤，但是我没有太在意。2013年，47岁，在武汉某医院我被诊断出患有渐冻症。2015年至2021年的6年时间里，我生活无法自理。我服用过近百种药品，还曾经到北京某知名医院治疗了三个月，都没能控制住病情的恶化。我的身体绵软无力，脖子绵软地抬不起头，话说不清楚，只能在手机上慢慢写字。从2019年开始，病情越来越严重。肩膀、颈椎犯起病来疼痛难忍；甚至连喝水、吃东西都会被呛到。我被疾病折磨得干枯萎缩，爆瘦了十几斤。我感觉自己已经熬到了生命尽头……

天无绝人之路，感恩佛菩萨的垂怜眷顾。2020年5月，有一位修学XLFM的师兄给我寄来了念经的播放器。从此我走进了ⅩLFM，开始学佛念经做功课了。也许是自己的佛缘具足，从一开始我就喜欢上了念经。不过，我的学佛之路并不是一帆风顺的，也有些许来自先生的阻碍。感恩微信群里的师兄们的开导和鼓励，才使我坚持到今天。

现在，每天早上起床后，我就喝大悲水，之后服用复方丹参片，再喝一碗红枣、枸杞、西洋参汁，然后开始念功课。我每天的功课是：《大悲咒》49遍，《心经》49遍，《准提神咒》49遍，《消灾吉祥神咒》49遍，《往生咒》49遍，《解结咒》49遍，《礼佛大忏悔文》5遍和《七佛灭罪真言》108遍。因为我的口业很重，所以我每天念诵108遍《七佛灭罪真言》专门用于消口业。每天我能念4张经文组合。

2021年5月，我许了如下五个大愿：
一、终身吃全素；
二、终生不杀生；
三、放生上万（没许多长时间内完成）；
四、在两年内念诵1000张小房子；
五、康复后现身说法，救度众生。
每天早上，我都跟菩萨把以上5个愿力说一遍。并且，我还补充一句：“我余生痛改前非，不造新业。”

感恩大慈大悲观世音菩萨！我曾经两次梦到观世音菩萨到我梦里，为我头部和咽喉做手术，帮我拔除痛苦。有一次我心情不好，晚上在梦里就看见“再难也要前行！”几个大字。我知道，这是观世音菩萨在慈悲点化我要知难而进！感恩大慈大悲观世音菩萨一直在不离不弃地救度我的生命和慧命！也感恩师兄们一直不厌其烦地支持我、帮助我！

较之于去年刚刚念经的时候，我现在的语速大大地提高了，跟着手机快语速版念经也毫无压力了。但是，我现在还是发音不清楚，即含糊不清。这也许就是因为我口业太重所致！是我拆散小弟姻缘的现世报。因果报应，丝毫不爽啊！这是在我学佛后才明白的道理。所以，学佛做人要谨小慎微，如履薄冰，更不能随便动他人因果。

虽然我学佛念经仅有一年的时间，但让我欣喜的是，我的的病情得到了有效控制，身体各方面都有了很好的改善。人长胖了，也有力气了。萎缩的肌肉长出来了，现在我可以从凳子上自己站起来了。舌头也灵活多了，吞咽时喉咙无阻碍，吃饭喝水也不会被呛到了。这一切都让我坚信，学佛念经一定可以改变我的命运！只要坚持念经，我的身体一定会越来越好的！

承蒙观世音菩萨慈悲保佑，让我的饮食逐渐恢复了正常，使我有了康复的资本。我相信只要我努力精进地学佛念经，身体一定会越来越好，一切都只是时间问题。先生脾气不好，学佛念经后，我就把他的坏脾气视为我修行修心的增上缘，促使我在念经学佛的路上更快地成长。虽然我先生现在还没有开悟，看到我学佛后各方面的改变，先生转变态度，如今支持我学佛念经了。我很感恩他能支持我学佛念经。

一人学佛，庇荫全家。自从2020年农历九月十五我家设佛台以后，儿子的生意也越来越好了。观世音菩萨大慈大悲，不但救度我，连我的孩子也一起呵护。
 
感恩这场疾病，让我有幸走进了XLFM。如今回想起来，曾经的自己连自杀的能力都没有，那些日子真是生不如死，简直就是活在人间地狱。相比之下，今天的生活太幸福了。学佛念经不但让我的身体走上康复之路，而且让我把心态整理好了，明白了做人的道理。有菩萨保佑，无论什么事情，我都充满信心。

冰冻三尺，非一日之寒；冰雪消融，非一日之功。我不敢奢望马上恢复到正常人那样，因为来自杀盗淫妄多年的宿业不可能一夜之间消掉。我时时刻刻告诫自己：要想完全康复，只有努力精进地学佛念经。我一定会好好珍惜自己的佛缘和慧命，好好学佛修心，报答佛菩萨的恩情！
 
再次感恩南无大慈大悲救苦救难广大灵感观世音菩萨摩诃萨，感恩十方三世一切诸佛菩萨及龙天护法金刚菩萨！感恩弘法度众舍身忘我的恩师慈父LJH台长！
 
如果在分享过程中有不如理不如法之处，祈请大慈大悲观世音菩萨慈悲原谅！请十方三世一切诸佛菩萨慈悲原谅！请龙天护法金刚菩萨慈悲原谅！请恩师慈父慈悲原谅！请师兄们批评指正！我自己的业障自己背，不让师父背，不让师兄们背！
 
分享人：万同修（明天一天光芒） 感恩合十
2021-06-01 收到
2021-07-27 发布
2022-03-29 英文

前世打渔人，残杀怀孕龟；今世渐冻症，早尝丧子痛 【ref 4】

(《玄艺综述》2017年6月27日，时间 00:32 - 11:00)

女听众：师父，您给我看一下图腾，我是1972年属老鼠的，看身体。
台长答：你的咽喉一直到胸部，你要当心，全是黑气。你的肺气不足。你为什么没力气？讲话、呼吸都用肺，你的肺没有力。
女听众：我懂。
台长答：你现在的精神状态非常不好，我看你主要问题是身上有一个灵性，是一个中年人，男的，看上去像五六十岁的。你念了几张小房子？
女听众：我现在大概念了900张。
台长答：你要特别当心喉咙，喉咙这个地方会长东西，还有肠胃。
女听众：没有感觉。
台长答：你要特别当心，我看到了。
女听众：师父，我这个病叫“渐冻症”，就是全身肌肉萎缩。去年香港法会也有去。您看现在怎么办？
台长答：我看看……这个病很长时间了。
女听众：我查出来有两年了
台长答：就是那个男的。你要记住，把这个灵性去掉之后，你可能要做些物理治疗的。
女听众：我这个病还没有药。
台长答：全身肌肉萎缩，不是骨头萎缩，是肌肉。
女听众：是的，现在一点力气都没有。
台长答：血液引起的，跟你上辈子的业障有关系。我看看你上辈子……你有一辈子做过渔夫，就是打渔的，抓到过一个大海龟，后来你把这个大海龟慢慢地弄死了。所以现在你的动作也好，做什么也好……你现在就是肌肉萎缩，手会越来越短，脖子也越来越短。
女听众：对，抬不起头。
台长答：看见了吧？快要缩进去了，变大乌龟了。这叫什么？这叫过去自己做错的因，自己要受果报的。现在你每天除了要拼命地念小房子之外，还要念《礼佛大忏悔文》，每天要念5～7遍。
女听众：我每天念5遍。
台长答：已经蛮好了，否则你的命早就没了。
女听众：师父，您看我功课怎么调？
台长答：你主要是念《礼佛大忏悔文》，还有《大悲咒》。
女听众：《大悲咒》、《心经》我都是27遍，《消灾吉祥神咒》49遍，《解结咒》49遍。
台长答：我告诉你，我刚刚看见你弄死的那个大乌龟是个母的，里边本来有个孩子，所以你这个业障特别重。我可以告诉你，不单你自己会得这个毛病，以后你的孩子也会得这个毛病。
女听众：那我就是念小房子。
台长答：不停地念。业障，没办法的，只能这么消，还有什么办法？
女听众：也不需要多少张，我就拼命地念。
台长答：拼命念，你许愿的时候可以说49张一拨，不停地许，不停地念。
女听众：是。
台长答：今天我把因果给你道明了之后，你自己应该懂了。你就可以慢慢心里想着，晚上可能会梦到这只龟的。而且你现在这么拼命地念，对你孩子也有好处。否则，你孩子大脑一定有萎缩情况，而且小孩子生出来脑子就不好。
女听众：哦，师父，我还想让您帮我看一下我的女儿。她现在怎么样？
台长答：你的女儿是不是脑子有问题？
女听众：不是，我的女儿已经去世三年多了。
台长答：去世了？哎哟！你看已经报掉了。留你一条命，就是因为你念经啊，否则你也早就死掉了。你看，这就不要讲了。很简单，这就是报你一个孩子啊，现在知道了吗？如影随形啊，逃都逃不掉的。你现在赶快告诉我她叫什么名字，我看看。
女听众：她叫郑预。
台长答：很小。怪不得你自己病这么重，你的小房子把你女儿超度到阿修罗道去了。
女听众：我原来念了，也不多。
台长答：本来你这个800张、900张，你自己应该好一点，但是你拼命地帮女儿念，女儿本来是投乌龟的，现在到阿修罗道了，很高了。
女听众：太感恩师父了！我最近梦到孩子，都是她几岁的时候。
台长答：现在还给你梦到就是在阿修罗道。
女听众：但是她都是这么小。
台长答：因为她走的时候也是很小。她个子不高，不到1.6米
女听众：差不多吧， 2014年走的。
台长答：短头发，后面扎了一个小辫子
女听众：对，有时候扎。
台长答：眉毛蛮浓的，眼睛不大。现在在阿修罗道。
女听众：师父，如果我再梦到她，还要给她念小房子吗？
台长答：你如果再梦到她，就是她回来看你了。你可以给她念，少念一点，念21张都可以。
女听众：最近我只要梦到她，都给她念。
台长答：我告诉你，因为你今天打得通电话，一个下午你身上这个灵性都在搞我，我头痛了一个下午，现在跟你打完我头就不痛了，今天是他让你打通的。
女听众：感恩。我放生多少？我现在一个人没法去放生，家里面也不支持。
台长答：我知道。看看有没有佛友帮你放一点，最主要是念经，念小房子。