Brain Disorders

Brain Disorders

Changed Brain Functions
Date Posted:
August 2009

A student wrote to Rinpoche asking for advice regarding changes in her husband’s brain functions. Her letter and Rinpoche’s response are reproduced below.

Student: I'm writing to you with a request for Lama Zopa Rinpoche regarding my husband, who has developed some worrying and unclear problems with his brain functions after we suspect being given the wrong type of medication. He has been unable to work for about a year, and I am finally turning to my beloved guru for advice, and possibly a mo about the true nature of the situation. If nothing can be done, at least we'll know. If there are any practices that would help, it would be wonderful.

Rinpoche's Response

My dear one,
I checked and this is the result of naga harm, this is the condition. The real cause is harm done to others in the past, the root of which is ignorance of ultimate truth. There are deities who manifest to protect sentient beings, so, to keep it simple, use this particular deity for purification: Vajra Armor. This is for your husband to do.

The practice is attached (Vajra Armor and Vajrapani, Hayagriva, Garuda). They can be done very simply (mantra and visualization) or according to the sadhana.

For Vajra Armor deity, visualize the deity in front and recite the mantra. Visualize blissful healing energy going into the body purifying the affected area, disease, spirit harm, negative karma, and obstacles. Do it also for others who are sick and in general for all other sentient beings. Have a strong motivation of compassion.

Also, chant Vajrapani Hayagriva Garuda mantra after doing the above practice, a few malas each time. This is also a very powerful purification practice.

Brain Disease
Date Posted:
April 2007

Rinpoche sent a card with the following advice to a very sick student, a young person, who had a type of brain disease.

My very dear one,
Please enjoy:

  1. Being a human being,
  2. Having met the most precious Dharma,
  3. Having met the most precious gurus, like Geshe Sopa Rinpoche and His Holiness Ling Rinpoche,
  4. Having met the compassion Buddha in human form: His Holiness the Dalai Lama,
  5. The practice, especially bodhicitta, as well as emptiness, and that
  6. You have met tantra—the quick path to enlightenment.

With big love and prayer...

Changes in Brain Tissue
Date Posted:
October 2005

A student wrote to Rinpoche saying a brain scan showed changes in the white tissue in her brain. The radiologist could not explain what had caused them. The student was unsure whether to pursue Western medicine for the condition and wrote to Rinpoche for advice.

My very dear one,
According to my observations, it doesn't look good for you to follow Western treatment. It may sound good at the beginning, but according to my observations it won’t solve anything.

You need two pujas to be performed:

  1. She nyin dü dog
  2. Liberating from Naga Harm: Lü dang sadag gi don dröl. You have to be present when this puja is done.

You need to practice Lion-face Dakini. Also, you need to receive the jenang of Lion-face Dakini.

There is one auspicious prayer that needs to be recited ten times. I will do that and also I will ask a geshe, but I have to find the prayer first in the Kangyur and send it to the geshe.

You need an increasing fire puja done.

The most beneficial practice is to recite the prayer Reciting the Names of Manjrushri (Manjusangita) every day. This is the most beneficial prayer to develop wisdom and memory. There are a few stories of how beneficial this practice has been for people.

One Kagyu lama, who wrote two excellent English/Tibetan dictionaries, very extensive ones, and knows very difficult terms from many texts, has an excellent memory because when he was young he recited Manjusangita four times a day.

One ex-abbot of the lower tantric college, who taught many students in South India, was able to memorize one long page of a Tibetan text by looking at it only four times because he recited Manjusangita.

Geshe Donyo, the current abbot of Sera Je Monastery, is able to memorize so many prayers due to reciting Manjusangita. This is a most profound tantric text that brings great purification and leaves positive imprints for your quick enlightenment.

Also, when I come to Aptos there is one more thing for you to do that I won’t mention now.

With much love and prayers...

Pages