Terminal Brain Tumor

Terminal Brain Tumor

Date of Advice:
August 2013
Date Posted:
October 2022

A student wrote to Rinpoche about a family member who was diagnosed with gioblastoma multiforme, a fast-growing brain tumor, and had just three to six months to live, or up to two years if he had radiation and chemotherapy. He had a connection with Dharma, having had visions of buddhas over the years. The student asked Rinpoche what pujas and practices could be done to help his relative’s recovery.

Rinpoche spent a long time checking. It seems difficult but the following practices came out as beneficial:

  • The most extensive Medicine Buddha puja, by the Fifth Dalai Lama, should be done three times by the Kopan monks. This is very important.
  • He can recite the Diamond Cutter Sutra, and he should continue reciting this as much as he can comfortably.