A phenomenon occurs within you
Disease is a phenomenon that occurs within you, regardless of what kind of phenomenon it is; it is merely a phenomenon. Pathologists, doctors, or even you may assign various names to this phenomenon, but you should understand that it is just a phenomenon with a label attached.
When we remove the name of the disease and simply view it as a phenomenon, it becomes easy to separate the “phenomenon” from “me,” and we can easily comprehend the impermanence and lack of essence of the phenomenon. This greatly helps us reduce our terror and attachment to disease.
The wise see the diseases that occur within them merely as phenomena, regardless of what those diseases or phenomena are. They always strip away the names associated with diseases and observe them as they are. They always peel away all stories related to diseases to see them clearly. Disease is simply a natural phenomenon occurring in the human body when we view it without names or stories.
Phenomena have no good or bad; they are simply phenomena. They just happen to occur within you. Perhaps you have described how they occurred in your case—the reasons and processes—but that is merely a story. These reasons and processes may convince you to believe in them, but can you be 100% certain that this is indeed the case?
Disease and health are equal. Disease is a phenomenon with manifestations, while health is a phenomenon without manifestations; yet, even a non-manifesting phenomenon is still a kind of phenomenon. All phenomena are equal; therefore, the wise regard disease and health as equal. The wise dwell in this understanding; thus, disease has no impact on them, regardless of what kind of disease—phenomenon—arises.
The wise simply perceive the existence of phenomena, perceive their absence, perceive their changes, and perceive their disappearance—nothing more than that. For them, they are eternally healthy because they regard health and disease as one and the same. In their mind and body, whatever condition arises remains normal for them because they dwell in an understanding of overall impermanence.
The wise possess a body free from illness because within their bodies they do not see disease or health; having no concept of health or illness represents true health. When a disease occurs in the wise person’s body and someone says they are ill, internally they do not share that belief; this isn’t denial—it’s their reality because they view their body and themselves beyond concepts and stories.
If we hold onto the mindset of the wise regarding disease, ourselves, and life itself, we will live free from worries about life and death. Without eyes, ears, nose, tongue, or body; without birth, aging, sickness, or death… what attachments or fears could there be? Without inverted perceptions we dwell in fearlessness devoid of “bravery or cowardice.” Life is just life; sickness is just sickness; death is just death (for convenience’s sake using these concepts), making everything much simpler.
Discovering the wisdom (Bodhisattva or Buddha) perspective leads to transcendence—that’s liberation. Cultivation aims to resolve this matter. This embodies deep practice of Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom). To recognize disease, health, oneself, life and death correctly—that’s right wisdom which distances us from inverted dreams. View diseases or yourself correctly but not on an intellectual conceptual level.
Namo all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Hands together in reverence.
by Taiwan Fearless Tathagata Ya Great Perfection Zen Center