Some Clarifications On Theoretical Issues About Nature Of Causes And Conditions Of Various Diseases For Traditional Medical Science
- Author:
Sainsaikhan D
1
;
Alimaa U
1
;
Seesregdorj S
;
S
1
Author Information
1. School of Traditional Medicine. Health Sciences University of Mongolia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Traditional Medicine
- From:
Journal of Oriental Medicine
2012;3(2):51-53
- CountryMongolia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: An Essential and principal issue for Medical Science in general is to diagnose and identify exact cause of given disease, and hence, to remove that particular cause as means to healing. Then and then alone it will be a perfect medical treatment. Unfortunately, there is tendency that we mistakenly put all of our efforts to only removing some external characteristics those are not essential due to lack of certain knowledge in some ways. That is to say, in case of having a clear theoretical knowledge about main cause of any disease we would have great power and opportunities for treatment. This enables us to strongly believe in some necessities for doing some researches on illuminating above- mentioned issue through Traditional Medicine, which considers mind as a main cause for human body and its various conditions, theory about cause and conditions of various diseases. Purpose: To do some clarifications on Traditional Medicine theory about causes of diseases and compare with related explanations. Objectives: 1. Putting light on how Traditional Medicine deal with causes of diseases by investigating through its some root texts and their commentaries. 2. To do some comparative investigation on how Mahayana philosophy of Buddhism deals with causes of diseases. Results: Main root text, titled as 'Four Roots of Medical Science' of Traditional Medicine, and its commentaries give elaborate accounts on mutual dependence of human body and mind as well as root causes of various diseases. Thus, base of human body is created by white and red drops of parents, whose bodies are made of five elements, and mind continuum of previous life. When these three come together in one base they become root cause for human body. If one of them is missing then it is not possible to get human body. This is why source for causes of various diseases are related to these three. Traditional Medicine classifies all diseases as related into body and mind in general. Furthermore, Traditional Medicine classifies causes of body and mind diseases into two categories called close and distant ones. Though, 'irrational mind' plays as remote cause for both and this gives rise to three root contaminations called attachment, anger and ignorance. While close cause of disease is the imbalance of wind, bile and phlegm components of body those are generally in balance in the healthy body due to three poisonous contaminations. According to Mahayana teachings, ignorance is mind that does not know nature of all things and further there are two types of ignorance. Ignorance that does not knowselflessness is called 'Marig' while not knowing karma is called 'Dimug'. Due to ignorance one perceives things mistakenly, creates doubts all the time, and hence, in turn these generate contaminations. Logically, all actions are performed out of ignorance and contaminations, and therefore, all types of diseases and sufferings are originated depending on such actions. According to 'Basics of Theory', brain is established when 'body sustaining channel' goes up above to navel [1]. There it says, “Ignorance is depending on brain and hence dullness and so on is depending on brain”. Furthermore, dullness is very close relative for all improper minds, that is to say, condition for ripening of all types of contaminations. According to “Reminding of Great Intention”, if one enjoys in sleeping and dullness, then all faultiest elements of wind, bile and phlegm will be accumulated. In turn these disturb the balance or health of body. If one take enjoyment in food out of enjoyment in sleeping and dullness, then his or her stomach will be contaminated, beauty of body will be degenerated and speech will be unclear. In general, whatever mental factors those are not pacifying mind continuum is defilement or contamination. For an instance, attachment is a strong desire towards whatever ignorant mind perceives as desirable. It is just like oil absorbed in cloth is very difficult to remove. While a type of mental factor seeks to harm towards sufferings such as other sentient beings, pain and sharp weapons and so on is called anger. According to “Entering into practice”, if one keeps anger all the time, ones mind will never be in peace and happiness, and hence even cannot sleep well. A Strong anger can easily destroy ones wealth and fame and so on. Discussions and conclusions: Unmistaken method for overcoming all those defilements, which are source of all types of diseases, is Bodhicitta mind of Mahayana Buddhism. This is altruistic mind for caring others. Mahayana means a great vehicle in which one generates an altruistic mind to liberate other sentient beings from sufferings through realizing others' sufferings as if they are the same as one's own sufferings. Why one should care about others? All of us, starting from plants, animals up to human society, are depending on our collective karma. Thus, our selfish attitude for happiness contradicts with this dependence. Can you have a happy life if you are just alone in this universe? No. Thus we have to generate an altruistic attitude in relation to mutual dependence of all things. Then we can generate great compassion based on this altruistic attitude of mind. There are some people in USA and other western countries try to practice Buddha dharma without having any understanding about karma of body, speech and mind. If so one can say American kind of renunciation or enlightenment is to be attached to the highest happiness. It is true for some Americans that they try to become Boddhisattva without renunciation of this samsara or day to day life. Do you think it is possible? Mongolia is one of the few countries those preserving and practicing Mahayana Buddhism as well as Traditional medical science from ancient time. That is to say, we are enjoying cultural heritage which is very deep rooted tradition of theory. Having gone through all these comparisons we draw a conclusion that traditional medicine considers 'irrational mind' or ignorance (ma rig) is source and cause for all diseases. Due to ignorance there are close causes of diseases, namelyattachment, anger and dullness. They further give rise to imbalance of wind, bile and phlegm components of body. Finally, it is very interesting that all sources and causes of various diseases come together into one that is mind, and hence, it enables us great opportunity to understand our subject matter.
