Gautama also identified five important practices for caretakers – nurses, family members, friends, and others – to be aware of as they cared for patients. He encouraged caretakers to: 1) insure that the patients are tended to by good-hearted and skillful doctors, 2) wake up earlier and go to bed later than patients and always remain alert to the patient’s needs, 3) speak to their patients in a kind and compassionate voice when they are feeling depressed or uneasy, 4) nourish the patients with the proper food in the correct amounts and intervals according to the nature of the ailment and according to the doctor’s instructions, and 5) talk with skill and ease about the Dharma with the patients; instructing them in proper healthcare for the body and mind. Lastly, Gautama offered advice to patients in order to help them heal quickly and thoroughly. He recommended that patients: 1) be cautious and selective about the food they eat, 2) consume food at the proper intervals, 3) stay in touch with their doctors and nurses, always acting kindly and graciously towards them, 4) keep an optimistic or hopeful outlook, and 5) be kind and considerate of those who are caring for you. The Buddha believed that a cooperative effort from the doctors, caretakers, and patients yielded the best results from treatment. The Buddha was not just an average doctor; he was an exceptional doctor who had vision and insight. In India, most Sarvastistvada Teachers are well educated in the five sciences, especially in medicine, which they are required to study. Because knowledge of medicine is mandatory for Left-Home persons, throughout Buddhist history there are many well-known Left-Home physicians, medical scholars, and medical texts. For example, in the Buddhist sutras, we find countless references to and discussions about medicine. Evidence also demonstrates that Buddhism has made a significant contribution to the world of medicine not only through the development of respectable health theories and principles but also through actual practice. While by no means an exhaustive list, the following are brief accounts of Buddhist masters who have stood out in the history of Buddhist medicine. In China, Master Buddhasimha was dedicated as the Honorable National Master of the East Gin Dynasty by Emperors Shile and Shihu. He was exceptionally skillful in reciting curative prayers and administering medicine. He tended to many patients who were paralyzed, in great pain, and were hopeless about finding a cure for their ailment. Master Buddhasimha never gave up on them, faithfully devoting his heart to caring for them as they suffered, prescribing the proper medication, and finding a lasting cure for their diseases. Master Zhu fatiao came to China from India, and stayed in Changshan Temple most of the time. He was quite famous for his ability to cure people, and patients journeyed hundreds of miles to seek his help. After skillfully diagnosing the problem and prescribing the appropriate treatment, nearly all of his patients were restored to good health. Master Faxi lived during the Tang Dynasty. When he resided in the capital, he assumed full responsibility for all of his patients’ needs and cared for them personally, including cleaning up their excrement. He never complained about this task or considered it filthy or difficult. On the contrary, he was always enthusiastic and joyful as he tended to his patients. Both the patients and fellow Left-Home persons praised his compassionate conduct. Master Faxi not only cured patients’ physical diseases, he also patiently brought them the knowledge of the Dharma to comfort them when they were feeling hopeless or in pain. Buddhists have also been credited for contributing to the cure of leprosy, a dangerous and contagious illness that often drove people away. However, many Buddhists chose not to avoid victims of leprosy but instead worked among them to help ease their suffering and cure their debilitating illness. Many monks put forth great effort to help leprosy patients, caring for them, encouraging them, changing their bandages, draining their infected sores, and doing their laundry. These people risked their lives by performing services that most people avoided.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 10:49:24 +0000
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