The Root of Illness: A Warning from a Brain Cancer Patient

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of a brain cancer patient, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his subsequent spiritual journey. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on January 17, 2023.

Venerable Chang Gao speaks:

"Today, from the space of deliverance, a spirit who suffered from brain cancer emerged. His head was still wrapped in bandages, as if he had departed the human world shortly after his surgery. As I looked at him, it was clear he had something he desperately needed to say."

The Weight of Unresolved Karma

"The moment the spirit saw me, he began to weep. I asked him, 'What has happened?' He replied, 'I have been dead for a long time, but I could never find an exit. I did not know where to go.' I asked him, 'From which space were you rescued by the Buddha-light and the chanting of the Buddha-name?' He answered, 'I emerged from a layer of rock on the side of that mountain.' I looked toward the direction he indicated and asked, 'Why did you end up trapped within the rock layers of that mountain?'

He explained, 'I was a businessman, but my heart was not upright. I was consumed by greed. To make money, I would use any method, no matter how unscrupulous, just to fill my pockets. Eventually, I developed brain cancer. I naively thought that surgery would cure me, but after the first operation, the doctors discovered that several smaller tumors had grown inside. They were already spreading. After I underwent a second surgery, my life came to an end.'"

A Life of Greed and Its Consequences

"I asked him, 'So, are you here today because you wish to share your life experience with everyone?' He replied, 'When I first learned I had brain cancer, I felt lucky that I had escaped death. But my opportunistic personality and my crooked mindset never changed. Because of this, the beings attached to me were unwilling to let me go. After my surgery, they simply continued to develop in other areas of my body. It wasn't just one group, either. Because of my mindset, my personality, and the sins I had committed, there were far too many karmic creditors waiting to seek revenge. That is why the tumors kept appearing one after another.

Even though surgery could remove the physical tumors, how could I possibly have enough vitality to endure so many operations? My body simply could not withstand such destruction, which is why I left the human world in such a short time. I want to tell everyone: if you do not change the mindset and personality that truly trigger your illnesses, your karmic creditors will never let you go. This is my own personal experience. I want to advise the people of this world: you must change. You must change thoroughly. Transform yourself into an entirely different person, shedding your old personality and habits. Only then can you resolve the conflicts with your karmic creditors. Furthermore, only through sincere repentance and changing your ways can you avoid suffering as I did—both before and after death. After suffering punishment in the hells, I was brought into the rock layers to endure further retribution.'"

A Plea for Transformation

"'If it were not for the compassion of Practitioner Su, who brought the golden light and the Buddha-name to save us, I do not know how much longer we suffering spirits would have had to endure such retribution before finding a way out. I offer my deepest, most heartfelt gratitude as I step forward to share my story. I hope that no one else follows in my footsteps. To be a human being, one must have a heart of Goodness. Only by changing yourself can you avoid falling ill.'

After the spirit finished speaking, he began chanting the Buddha-name and walked into the Buddha-light. As he walked, he kept calling out to other spirits, urging them to move forward quickly and to stop suffering."

The Necessity of Inner Change

"After listening to this simple yet profound testimony, I could see that there are far too many people in this world suffering under the destruction of illness. Yet, most do not understand the need to change their own personalities, nor do they know how to resolve the conflicts with their karmic creditors. Even if surgery temporarily resolves a crisis, one never knows when these resentful and aggrieved beings will manifest again.

One must thoroughly transform their own mental state and compassionately save the spirits within their own body who have been suffering for so long. Only then can one truly help oneself, and in turn, help all other beings.

Namo Amituofo."

— Chang Gao