BE HAPPY WHEN YOU ARE SICK

One day in middle of November, 2009, I was having a serious food poisoning started from 8 pm. I was stubborn and refused to see any medical doctor.I took a big cup of fresh coconut water thinking that it was a minor diarrhea and it should recover very soon.

I was totally wrong and ran to toilet more than 30 times from 8 pm to 11.30 pm. It was the worst diarrhea I have ever had in my life and rushed to clinic for treatment.

For 2 days, I could have run to the toilet more than 50 times. However, the diarrhea stop the third day and I was diagnosed to have suffered dehydration and couldn't sit up at all. I was advised by doctor to rest and drink 100 plus in addition to other medication prescribed as well.

While I was unhappy resting at home ,feeling very weak and couldn't do anything , a dharma teaching given by one Taiwanese monk many years ago came to mind :-

" Every action there is reaction. If you plant a fruit tree, you get fruits one day. Whatever you are suffering now is due to bad karma committed in your previous life. So when are sick in bed, don't let it affect your mood, be happy and relax. This is because you are in the process of paying back or getting rid of your bad karma."