“Violent rage and fury is harmful to yin, while sudden and excessive delight damages yang,” according to an ancient Chinese proverb.
In both modern and traditional Chinese medical practices, emphasis is placed on preventing unhealthy habits. For instance, it is generally believed that those suffering from coronary ailments should not get excited, and those with liver problems should not get angry.
In the view of traditional Chinese medicine, the heart is affected by happiness, the liver by anger, the lungs by sorrow and anxiety, the spleen by thoughts, and the kidneys by fear.
These “five symptoms” are the respective reactions of the five organs to the various emotions we experience. Ongoing strong emotional reactions will produce harmful vital energy and blood flow and will have grave consequences for the body.
Modern medical science has also found that constant changes in a person’s disposition will lead to different responses of the body’s endocrine system, which may result in severe adverse effects on the body.
Unlike our ancestors, many of today’s people are extremely competitive, jealous, tense, and depressed. We can be very ambitious, possessing little self-control and exhibiting strong desires for self-expression.
If we become full of resentment, we may find ourselves continuously finding ways to come out of life situations as a winner, harming those around us and, in the long run, harming society.
Furthermore, modern people are chronically worried about personal loss and gain, which will have a negative effect on their psyche. Such unhealthy sentiments cause disorder to the endocrine system and will, without exception, result in illnesses.
On the other hand, the ancients were very particular about etiquette and morals and maintained self-control. Their behavior was governed by what they understood to be the will of heaven. They were at ease with themselves. They had no high aspirations, did not ask for what was not possible, and did not worry about injustices. Therefore they harbored no resentment.
Also, in ancient society, competitiveness and self-promotion were non-existent. It was a less-stressful environment. The ancients did not exhibit nervous, anxious, or worried behavior, nor did they have feelings of indignation. Thus, we can safely say that the ancients were not harmed by their thoughts or behavior.
Today, however, people engage in harming each other and committing countless karma-inducing acts. In Buddhism, all human actions result in either good karma (“de” in Chinese) or bad karma (called simply karma). The benefits and misfortunes in life, such as wealth or illness, come from the de and karma one has accumulated.
In reality, the naked eye cannot see the entire universe. There are many dimensions that mankind cannot see. The main and collateral energy channels, as well as the acupuncture points discussed in traditional Chinese medicine, do not exist in the body in this dimension. Therefore, modern tools cannot find them. Yet they do exist.
De and karma are also two substances that are part of the body but exist in another dimension. When one does a good deed, one will obtain de. When one does a bad deed, one will obtain karma. A person’s de and karma follow one’s primordial spirit forever.
Modern science is unable to detect other dimensions and cannot confirm the existence of enlightened beings. Modern mankind, under the influence of modern science, will do everything for personal gain with very little consideration for the consequences. People thoughtlessly harm others and thus obtain karma. They do not know that karma is the root of all diseases, sufferings, and tribulations.
One can find the above expressed in many ancient books. Sun Simiao pointed out in his book “Valuable Prescriptions for Emergencies” that the reason that doctors are needed is that people fall sick as a result of their behavior and minds going astray.
Human beings are very stubborn and restricted within the frame of their own perception. They are powerless to address the wrongs in their minds and let go of their preconceptions. They are not willing to improve their morality, despite being sick.
The wind is the cause of all illnesses. When one is quiet, one’s flesh will be tight and will not be harmed by strong winds and disease, according to traditional Chinese medicine.
In modern medical views, “wind” means all pathogenic microorganisms and the symptoms of diseases that develop rapidly, change quickly, and are prone to spasms (earlier referred to as the tightening of the flesh).
This writer believes that wind means karma. When one is quiet and calm, one naturally will not commit bad deeds, will not be afraid of accumulating karma, and will not be affected by poisonous and evil influences. Therefore, not committing bad deeds is regarded as more important than simply observing healthy habits of living.
Continued on next page: Material comforts …
