Abdominal Tumors

Abdominal Tumors

Date of Advice:
March 2019
Date Posted:
October 2024

A student wrote that they had cancer, with several soft tissue tumors growing in their abdomen. Rinpoche advised the student to see the cancer as positive, because it was purifying their past heavy negative karma.

My most dear, most kind, most precious, wish-fulfilling one,
I checked and these are the pujas that came out for you to have done:

  • Gyab shi puja: To be recited three times by the Kopan nuns.
  • Dorje Dermo [Dharani of Glorious Vajra Claws]: To be recited seven times by the Kopan nuns.
  • Kangyur: To be read by the monks of Tubtop Rinpoche at Swayambhu, Kathmandu.

It is important to really think about what Kadampa Geshe Kharag Gomchung said:

By experiencing even this small suffering now
Finishes so much heavy past negative karma
And there will be happiness in the future.
Therefore, rejoice in the suffering you are experiencing now.

Think that the cancer is not negative, it is positive, and the future will be like the sun shining in the world. So, you can enjoy this sickness. Please look at it this way.

Of course, if you do a lot of virtuous actions, that is positive, such as when you do service for sentient beings, bearing hardship with love and compassion. Or when you offer service to the guru, fulfilling the guru’s wishes, which is most positive. It is not necessary to be near the guru—you can be far away, or serving the monastery. This is very powerful and it purifies all your past heavy negative karmas. First, it completely purifies the suffering result, so that it doesn’t have to be experienced again.

For example, due to some positive Dharma practices you don’t have to experience the heaviest suffering of the lower realms. Instead, some small suffering happens in this life and you experience it now. If you have bodhicitta, then even if someone gets angry with you or scolds you, you can be happy because it is purifying your negative karma. Or if a small catastrophe happens in this life, then you don’t have to experience the three lower realms for so long. This is what Geshe Kharag Gomchung is saying, so it is very positive.

Think the sickness is the blessing of the guru, to purify your heavy negative karma, and look at it in emptiness. That doesn’t mean the sickness doesn’t exist; it means there is no real sickness. So think in this way; that is most useful.

I am also making prayers for you.

With much love and prayers ...