Fear often arises when we do not feel well or when we are injured. Our minds get tight and start writing the incredible worst-case scenario — because we have the sniffles, we are going to die of pneumonia. Then we think about it, amplify it, get depressed or angry, lash out at others, and generally stay stuck in our fear.

One very good method for dealing with health issues is to realise that karma is involved on two fronts. First, we have the good karma to have a precious human body, which allows us to practise the Dharma. We need to appreciate that fact and take care of our body well so we can practise. Second, when our body is in pain, we must remember that we took this body in samsara, so what can we expect? Certainly not everlasting bliss.

When physical difficulties arise, it is due to karma created in a previous life. We may not know exactly what we did, but we can get an idea of the kind of actions we may have done by studying books about karma. Then we need to make a strong determination not to do it again because we do not like the result that we are experiencing. When we keep our minds focused on that, we would not be afraid of what is going to happen to our health. The mind that is focused on taking responsibility and having the determination to oppose our self-centeredness cannot at the same time indulge in self-centred melodramas about the fearful states of our health.

Another way to combat fear, particularly about health, is to generate compassion for other people who are experiencing similar or even worse health difficulties and doing the taking and giving meditation. This is a way of pulling the mind out of ruminating with inappropriate attention, creating all sorts of afflicted states of mind, and directing it to respond with compassion, the determination to be free from samsara, and responsibility for our negativities. We should practise like this before we fall extremely ill so these views get habituated in our minds.

I remember some years ago, I had a severe infection in my big toe, and I was living in a rural area in France. Nobody could take me to the ER until the next day, so I spent the whole night in the meditation hall thinking of how the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas endured pain for the benefit of sentient beings and how they grew their compassion using these kinds of situations. This was the only thing that kept me afloat that whole night until the following morning. Keeping your mind on a virtuous topic gives you ways to deal with uncomfortable situations and prevents fear, anger, self-pity, and everything else that usually comes up when your body is injured or ill.

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