On Karmic Burden

Question: An elderly person in my family had leg pain, and I massaged and treated them daily. After more than three months, their leg healed, but I discovered that my own arm developed the same symptoms that were previously on their leg. Sometimes when I treat colleagues, they recover, but similar symptoms appear on my own body. Why does this happen?

Answer: You have taken on the karmic obstacles of others. Karmic obstacles do not vanish without cause; they must be repaid before they can disappear. If the original bearer does not endure the retribution, you will have to endure it instead. If Buddhists constantly shoulder the karmic obstacles of others, they cannot progress in their practice. In the end, no one attains accomplishment, and all remain trapped in the cycle of birth and death.

Doctors who treat illnesses certainly bear certain karmic consequences as well, but that is their profession. They do not intentionally seek to eliminate others' karma or bear their karmic obstacles; doctors must act as they do. However, deliberately attempting to dissolve others' karma will inevitably provoke resentment from karmic creditors who are then unable to claim their debts. For example, if your family member owes a debt, and the creditor comes to collect, but you shield your family member—what do you think would happen if the creditor cannot reclaim what is owed?

According to the law of cause and effect, karmic seeds must ripen before retribution can be received. Some karmic creditors attached to the body will seek immediate retaliation. Others will seek retribution at the moment of death. If the karmic obstacles borne are severe, even without karmic creditors directly attached to the body, the karmic consequences will manifest swiftly. There are many variations of such situations—it is complex and cannot be fully explained. Some illnesses are not due to karmic obstacles; there are no karmic seeds present. They may be caused by environmental factors or accidents. Treating such conditions does not incur retaliation—there is no karmic obstacle, no adverse retribution—only good retribution may follow.