Use the Vajrapani meditation. Visualize Vajrapani in front emitting strong white beams of purification to wherever you have pain or disease. Vajrapani purifies the disease and stops harm by non-human beings and other conditions associated with the disease. There have been people healed from cancer by using Vajrapani meditation.

Meditate a little on ignorance—not knowing the mind's ultimate nature, the five aggregates, right and wrong actions, and desire and anger—all of these bring about karmic action. That unwholesome action leaves a potential on the consciousness, which is the main cause for the disease and all life's problems. Without this imprint one won't get contagious diseases, therefore it must be purified. Think that one is purifying not only oneself but on behalf of everyone with cancer and AIDS, and for all beings with problems.

Use these analogies: Negative and positive imprints relate to happiness and success or failure. We can remember yesterday although it no longer exists. We can recall the past depending on our clarity of mind. The amount we can recall depends on this clarity, or it can be recalled in a dream. Good or bad actions arise from the mental imprint.

Explain that mind is not physically substantial, like electricity. We don't see electricity but it has the capacity to carry a message from one point to the radio or television, whatever. Like this, karma created in this life can be experienced from life to life.

Emphasize the capacity of the mind, whether we now remember karma or reincarnation or not. The mind is like a telescope. If it is developed, like sophisticated technology, then it can see far and very clearly.

Meditation should focus on bodhicitta with tong-len. We develop a good heart and loving kindness and then meditate on the four immeasurables with tong-len. The object of tong-len is all beings' three poisonous minds and diseases, but particularly the same disease as the meditator has. This is developing the thought of making the sickness worthwhile and purifying others.

Use loving kindness with the mind of giving. Get the meditation from FPMT Central Office of the person who recovered from AIDS (called "Meditation for AIDS", File: AIDS.MD).

Sometimes just recite mantras and then practice tong-len. Using thought transformation is important. No matter whether many people come to an organized event or not, even practicing it with one person is worthwhile.

The length of time for the retreat can be five days to one week, ten days, or a weekend. If it is ten days, then people can come according to the time they have available.

The practice is beneficial not only for curing the disease but for accumulating merit and purifying. Sometimes, depending on the people present, we can explain dependent arising and emptiness, gross and subtle, but mostly use bodhicitta.

Resources

The Seven Point Training of the Mind, Geshe Chekawa.

Advice from a Spiritual Friend, Geshes Dhargyey and Rabten, includes commentary by Geshe Rabten, Wisdom Publications, 1986.

Selected Works of the Dalai Lama VII, trans. Glen Mullin, Snow Lion, 1982.

The Mind-Training like the Rays of the Sun, H.H. 14th Dalai Lama, with commentary by H.H. Dalai Lama, Nam-kha Pel - Chö Yang magazine Vol 1 No.1, 1986.

Commentary by Geshe Jampa Tegchok, trans. S. Carlier, Nalanda Monastery, France, 1992.

Mind Training like the Rays of the Sun, Nam-kha Pel/B. Beresford, LTWA, 1992.

Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche/M. Richards, Wisdom Publications, 1991 (Root text pp. 788-792 and commentary pp. 589-625).

Transforming Problems, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Wisdom Publications, Boston 1993.

Also, use the thought transformation prayers in the Lama Chöpa (Guru Puja). It is important to see the disease as positive. Mainly think, “I am experiencing this disease on behalf of all sentient beings.” Practice this awareness in the day. Wish all to be free of this disease and to never have to experience it.

If people are open-minded, then explain about liberating animals. People have untimely deaths, though generally have the karma for a long life. Liberation of animals creates the cause for a long life. Buy fish and crayfish in restaurants. You can also buy maggots. This helps all the beings involved. Liberate 100 beings or up to the age of the person, depending on the economic situation of the person.

Think, “Instead of all beings, I take this on.” Doing this sincerely definitely helps. With sudden pain at any time, use tong-len, even just reciting the words or starting to have the intention.

My dear Emma,
Hello, good morning.

This mantra came out beneficial for you to recite. This mantra came from Buddha, for you. Buddha thought this mantra would benefit sentient beings, so that includes you. I am sure Buddha sees that this mantra will benefit you.

With any practice, when you begin, there is the preparation, which is the motivation. So, begin with Refuge and Generating Bodhicitta. Then recite mantras, and at the end make a dedication.

Refuge:

I go for refuge to Buddha, Dharma, Sangha
Until enlightenment is achieved
Due to the merits of having performed charity and so forth,
May I receive enlightenment in order to benefit all the transmigrator beings.
(three times)

Think that Buddha is in your heart, or you can visualize the elaborate refuge merit field, or just Buddha—who is the entire guru, Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, and all the holy objects in the ten directions.

If you are making offerings then it is good to think that you are also offering to the holy objects in the ten directions, including offering to Guru Shakyamuni Buddha—who is all the gurus, buddhas, Dharma, and Sangha.

After Refuge and Bodhicitta, then perform the practice of generating the Four Immeasurable Thoughts. Then, after that, make the particular bodhicitta motivation.

Think: there are numberless hell beings, and from each one I received all my past present, and future happiness, realizations, enlightenment, everything, so every one of them is the most precious, most kind one in my life. They are experiencing the general sufferings of samsara, particularly the hell realm sufferings, so even one second is like suffering for eons. It is so unbearable for me. I must free them from all the suffering causes and bring them to enlightenment as quickly as possible by myself alone.

Then think: There are numberless hungry ghosts from whom I received all my past, from beginningless samsaric rebirths, present, and future happiness, realizations, enlightenment, everything. They are the most precious, most kind ones in my life. They are experiencing all the general sufferings and, in particular, the sufferings of the hungry ghosts, so they experience these sufferings for eons. It is so unbearable for me, therefore I must liberate them from all the suffering causes and bring them to enlightenment as quickly as possible by myself alone.

There are numberless animals from whom I have received all my past, present, and future happiness, realizations, enlightenment, everything. They are the most precious, most kind ones in my life. They are experiencing the general sufferings and particular sufferings of the lower animal realms, so they experience these sufferings for eons. It is unbearable for me, therefore I must liberate them from all the suffering causes and bring them to enlightenment as quickly as possible by myself alone.

There are numberless human beings from whom I have received all my past, present, and future happiness, realizations, enlightenment, everything. They are the most precious, most kind ones in my life. They are experiencing the general sufferings and particular sufferings of the human realms, those eight types of suffering. Even one second is like suffering for an eon. It is unbearable for me, so therefore I must free them from all the suffering causes and bring them to enlightenment as quickly as possible by myself alone.

Then, there are numberless suras from whom I have received all my happiness, from time without beginning, my past, present, and future happiness, realizations, enlightenment, everything. They are the most precious, most kind ones in my life. They are experiencing the general sufferings and particular sufferings of the sura realms. Even one second is like suffering for eons. It is unbearable for me, therefore I must liberate them from all the suffering causes and bring them to full enlightenment as quickly as possible by myself alone.

There are numberless asuras from whom I have received all my past, present, and future happiness, realizations, enlightenment, everything, who are the most precious, most kind ones in my life. They are experiencing all the general and particular sufferings of the asura realms. Even one second is like suffering for an eon, it is unbearable for me, therefore I must free them from all the suffering causes and bring them to enlightenment as quickly as possible by myself alone.

There are numberless intermediate state beings from whom I have received all my past, present and future happiness, realizations, enlightenment, everything, who are the most precious, most kind ones in my life. They are experiencing the general sufferings and particular sufferings of the intermediate stage, those terrifying, disturbing appearances of the four elements. Even one second is like suffering for an eon. It is unbearable for me, therefore I must free them from all the suffering causes and bring them to enlightenment as quickly as possible by myself alone.

Therefore, I must achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible. Thus, I am going to work for sentient beings, reciting these mantras for all those who have sicknesses. I am going to recite these mantras for healing, to purify their negative karma, and also to heal my sickness so I can practice Dharma and serve other sentient beings.

That is the motivation, then chant the mantra.

Recite mostly this mantra:

TADYA THA/ DANTI LE KANTI LE/ DANTA MI TE/ MADHU MAMA TI/ MADHU MA TI/ KA RHINTA TE/ KO RENDHA DRA BI TI/ KOSHA BHI/ TSA TA DZA/ DHU DHU MA TE/ KETU MA TE/ TZA DHUNA DHE/ KUTA DANTE/ TARU HURE/ IAN NIGE/ HU TRA BAHU NI/

Also this mantra:

TADYA THA/ ANDHA RE/ PENDHA RE/ KARA TA/ KE YU RE/ BHUTA GRA HE/ BHUTA GRA HE/ BHUTA PRAK SHI TE/ BHUTAYA SMARAYA NI/ PRAYA BA TI/ TE DZI BA TI/ YASHO BA TI/ GIRI NINI/

(May myself and all sentient beings have goodness, happiness, be free from all the dangers and all the harms—svaha.)

After reciting the mantras then dedicate the merit. As I mentioned at the beginning, the complete practice is two things: one is preparation, that is the motivation. Of course, the best motivation is bodhicitta, then the actual body of the mantra, and when finished, the dedication:

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me and the merits of the three times collected by others, may the bodhicitta, which is the source of all happiness and success of all sentient beings, be actualized without any delay, for even a second, in one’s heart and one’s family members, praying for success in the heart of all sentient beings.

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me and the merits of the three times collected by others, may all the father and mother sentient beings have happiness, and the three lower realms be empty forever. This happiness does not just mean temporary happiness, but ultimate liberation from samsara, and full enlightenment.

Due to all past, present, and future merits collected by me and the merits of the three times collected by others, may all the father and mother sentient beings have happiness, the three lower realms be empty forever, may all the bodhisattvas’ prayers succeed immediately, and may I be able to cause all this to happen by myself alone.

Then, recite the following from the Bodhisattvacaryavatara:

How many sick sentient beings there are
May they be liberated immediately from all sicknesses.

You can recite this a few times.

Due to the past, present, and future merits, collected by others, dedicate like this again:

How many sick sentient beings there are, may they immediately be liberated from all those sicknesses.

Due to the past, present, and future merits collected by me and the merits of the three times collected by others, which exist, but do not exist from their own side, which are totally non-existent, may the “I,” which exists, but does not exist from its own side, which is totally empty, achieve Guru Shakyamuni enlightenment.

Depending on which practice you do, the second mantra is related to Chenrezig. So you can say:

May I achieve Chenrezig’s enlightenment, which exists, but does not exist from its own side, which is totally non-existent and empty, and lead all sentient beings, which exist but do not exist from their own side, which are totally empty, to Chenrezig’s enlightenment which exists, but does not exist from its own side, by myself alone, who exists, but does not exist from her own side, who is totally empty.

Please pacify immediately the sicknesses, poverty, quarrels, fights, and increase the Dharma and auspicious things in the world, country, area, and place where I and others abide.

The other prayer is this important one:

May the general teachings of the Buddha, the particular teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa, and the Heart Sutra teaching be completely actualized in my own heart and in family members, in the hearts of everyone in this world, and may they spread in all directions and flourish in this world.

May the precious body, which is difficult to find, be able to sustain me for hundreds of years and not become a container of negative karma and vices, be used only for virtuous, good activities, be auspicious, and complete works for myself and others.