If we want to be free from illness, we have to make positive changes.

SUFFERING FROM SICKNESS

Mr. Tam, come over here to drink some water. You have worked out so much.

Mr. Tam smiled, wiped his face with a towel and walked over to a street vendor where he sat with a group of locals. A friend gave Mr. Tam a glass of water and said:

• We admire your dedication to your practice. But why are you so afraid of getting sick? Health insurance will cover the illness.

Mr. Tam responded:

• I'm afraid of illness because I have health insurance.

His friends were surprised by that. Mr. Tam went on to say:

• Do you guys know what the health insurance fund means?
• If we get sick and need to go to hospital, our health insurance will cover the entire or part of the hospital bill. We pay a small monthly premium for health insurance, but it can pay a large portion of our hospital bills, easing the burden on our families. We pay less for health insurance than what it covers for our medical expenses. Having health insurance is profitable.

Mr. Tam shook his head, took a slow drink of tea, and said:

• You guys are mistaken.

His companions looked at him expectantly as if something strange was about to happen. Mr. Tam spoke slowly as usual:

• The health insurance fund is actually a charity fund. Typically, a monthly salary does not cover medical treatment; instead, it just covers enough food, fuel, clothing, and children's tuition. When a family member gets ill, the entire family must eat less for spending less money on food. Medical treatment costs much money, and none of us can avoid getting ill. The older we get, the easier it is to become ill. Illness takes away our family property. Sickness is a great source of human sufferings. We would prefer to die than live with diseases. But it would be insane to commit suicide, so we must live. We must accept illness as a part of life.

Curing sickness costs a lot of money. I can get sick, everybody does. People all over the world get sick in turn. Disease depletes all of humanity's resources.

People create health insurance funds because they are worried about sudden illnesses that will strike them out of nowhere. One cannot care for himself, but it is better for us all to care for each other. When we are not ill, we make regular contributions to the fund to help cure somebody else when they are in sickness. When we get sick, other people donate money to help us get better. The Health Insurance Fund is a great mutual charity fund.

Because the health insurance fund is truly a charity fund in nature, I contribute money to it regularly and try to avoid getting sick so that I don't have to spend it. I pay to support others, not expecting to be reimbursed for the hospital fee from my illness, which is more what I have paid to the insurance fund. I want to do good but not get in debt.

Because I have paid for health insurance, I try to avoid illness so that they don't have to compensate me for my medical treatment. I want it to be spent on someone else's expenses.
The friends agreed with a nod, and poured Mr. Tam a drink.

There are many causes of illness, but Buddhism believes that birth, old age, sickness, and death are inevitable. We can only do so much in terms of disease prevention. Perhaps we are sick because we have hurt someone. Perhaps we are sick because we have overindulged in pleasure. Perhaps we have become ill because we have squandered our health on frivolous activities that waste our time and energy. Perhaps we are sick because we are slackers who don't contribute to the society...

Then, when we get sick, much of our own money, as well as our family's and society's resources is spent on treatment. Sickness is not only the individual's suffering, it is also the collective suffering of all people.

If we want to be free from illness, we have to make positive changes. One is not to make anyone suffer. Second, do not indulge in sensual pleasures. Third, don't waste your health. Fourth, don't be lazy. You have to work and dedicate yourself to life. Five is to do more exercises. We must maintain a healthy life, eat sensibly, cultivate morality, and especially practice meditation.

Written by:
Janna

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