This interview with Venerable Yongning was recorded on September 20, 2023, by Shi Fajing. In this discussion, the Venerable explores the spiritual origins of physical illness and the necessity of karmic resolution for true health.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
". No one in this world is without fear of falling ill. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself: who exactly is it that falls ill, and who is it that remains healthy? Think about it—every single person carries trillions of cells within their body, and within every one of those cells, there exists a space. These spaces are not empty. They are hidden realms, and within them reside various sentient beings. Most of these beings are your own from throughout your many lives. Of course, this also includes external spirits who have wandered in. They all reside together, occupying different spaces within your physical form."
The Illusion of Physical Prevention
"People everywhere desperately hope for a healthy body. No one wants to suffer from illness. Yet, no matter how much you resist it, no matter how diligently you exercise every single day, or how many mountains of fruits and vegetables you consume, you may still fall ill all the same. It seems that these physical efforts alone are not enough to completely avoid the possibility of sickness. Why is that? Because illness does not arrive without a cause. It is absolutely, inextricably linked to your own , your personality in this life, and your ingrained habits."
"Consider those who are clearly good people—they treat others with kindness, they are always smiling, and they work with such diligence. Yet, when they reach the sunset of their lives, they are struck by severe, debilitating illnesses and depart from this human world in agony. We see this all the time. The suffering they endure and their eventual passing leave those around them in disbelief. People often lament, 'Why didn't the Heavens protect such a good person? Why must they suffer so much?' But remember this: every event has a cause. If you carefully examine these individuals, you will find that even the 'best' among us still possess their own stubborn personality traits. Naturally, they cannot escape the entanglement of their own karma."
The Grip of Attachment
"Take, for example, a person whom everyone praises as a 'good person.' Even if they are kind, they may be deeply attached to certain views. This intense, rigid attachment is exactly what allows their karmic creditors to seize hold of them. Within every single one of their attached thoughts, there are karmic creditors waiting to control them. Every time they indulge in that attachment, their body is further encroached upon. Bit by bit, these creditors occupy their physical form until, finally, the person is led toward the inevitable fate of severe illness."
"Then there are those who are good-hearted but prone to pessimism, melancholy, and negative thinking. They bury these emotions deep within their hearts. Behind the they project to others lies a hidden, internal suffering. But where does this suffering come from? It all stems from their own negative thoughts—a dark space from which they cannot find an exit. When a person dwells in this darkness, spirits from outside quickly enter, while the karmic creditors already inside follow the lead of these negative thoughts, constantly attacking the body. The illness grows stronger and stronger, and by the time it finally manifests physically, the person is already critically ill."
The Necessity of Transformation
"Every person is a mixture of good and evil. It does not matter if you have more good than evil, or more evil than good. As long as there is even a tiny bit of evil, a tiny bit of stubborn personality, or a tiny bit of habit or preference that you find impossible to break, it can become the key that allows your karmic creditors to seek revenge. If you truly wish to avoid illness, you must begin by listening to the sutras and hearing the . You must understand the Universal Principles, recognise the laws of karma and cause and effect, and truly understand what your 'personality' is. You must constantly raise your awareness to observe your own heart, and then, from the heart, change yourself completely."
"Beyond this, you must perform for your karmic creditors. Help them find an exit to liberation so that they no longer need to seek revenge or suffer within the spaces of your body. In the process of saving them, you are simultaneously saving yourself. If you are afraid of falling ill, it is far better to start changing yourself this very instant. It is useless to fear illness while still clinging to your old personality. That will only make your fears a reality, make illness an inevitability, and leave you with nothing but endless regret."
