Recent research in medicine, in experimental psychology and
what is still called parapsychology has thrown some light on the nature of mind
and its position in the world. During the last forty years the conviction has
steadily grown among medical men that very many causes of disease, organic as
well as functional, are directly caused by mental states.
The body becomes ill, because the mind controlling it either
secretly wants to make it ill, or else because it is in such a state of
agitation that it cannot prevent the body from sickening. Whatever it’s
physical nature, resistance to disease is unquestionably correlated with the
psychological condition of the patient.
“Mind not only makes sick, it also cures. An optimistic patient has more chance of getting well than a patient who is worried and unhappy. The recorded instances of faith healing include cases in which even organic diseases were cured almost instantaneously.”
In this connection it is interesting to observe the
prevalence, in Buddhist lands, of listening to the recital of the Dhamma for
protection and deliverance from evil, and for promoting welfare and well-being.
The selected discourses for recital are known as paritta suttas. Paritta in pali, parittrana in Sanskrit
and Pirit in Sinhala mean principally
protection. They are used to describe certain suttas or discourses (spoken by
the Buddha] that are regarded as affording protection and deliverance from ill
omen.
The practice of reciting and listening to the paritta suttas
began very early in the history of Buddhism. It is certain in that their
recital produces mental well-being in those who listen to them with intelligence
and are confident in the truth of the Buddha's words. Such mental well-being can
help those who are ill to recover, and it can also help to induce the mental
attitude that brings happiness, and to overcome its opposite. Originally in India
those who listened to paritta sayings of the Buddha understood what was recited
and the effect on them was correspondingly great. The Buddha himself had pint
recited for him and he also requested others to rec item pirith for his own
disciples when they were ill. This practice is still in vogue in Buddhist
lands.
The Buddha and the Arahats can concentrate on the paritta
suttas without the aid of another. However, when they are ill it is easier to
listen to what others recite, and thus focus their minds on the Dhamma than
think of the Dhamma themselves. There are occasions as in the case of illness
which weakens the mind, when hetero-suggestion has been found to be more
effective than auto-suggestion.
According to the Dhamma the mind is so closely linked with
the body that mental states affect the body's health and well-being. Some
doctors even say that there is no such thing as a purely physical disease.
Unless, therefore, these bad mental states are caused by previous evil acts
(akusala karma-vipaka] and so are unalterable, it is possible so to change them
that mental health and physical well- being will follow.
The vibratory sounds produced by paritta are soothing to the
nerves and produce a state of peace of mind and bring harmony to the system.
How can bad influences springing from evil beings be
counteracted by the recitation of paritta suttas? Well, they are the result of
evil thinking. They can, therefore be destroyed by the good state of mind
caused by listening intelligently and confidently to paritta saying, because of
the power of concentration that comes into being through attending
wholeheartedly to the truth of the sayings.
Paritta sutta recital is a form of saccakiriya of depending
on the truth or protection, justification or attainment. This means complete
establishment in the power of truth to gain one's end. The saying: 'The power of truth protects a follower of
the truth' (Dhammo Bhawe rakkhati dhammachanm] is the principle behind
these sutta recitals. If it is true that virtue protects the virtuous, then a
person who listens to these sayings with complete confidence in the Buddha's
words, which spring from complete enlightenment, will acquire so virtuous a
state of mind that he will conquer any evil influence.
The recital of paritta suttas also results in material
blessings through the mental states caused by concentration and confidence in
listening intelligently to the recital. According to the Buddha, right effort
is a necessary factor in overcoming suffering (vinyena dukkham accheti].
Listening to one of these recitals in the proper way can also generate energy
for the purpose of doing good and following the path of worldly progress with
diligence.
It is understood that listening to these paritta suttas must
produce in the intelligent and confident listener only wholesome states which
can cure and prevent illness. There is
no better medicine than truth (Dhamma] for both mental and physical ills which
are the cause of all suffering and misfortune. So the recital of paritta
suttas may, when they are listened to rightly, bring into being mental
conditions of health necessary for material progress, physical welfare and
well-being.
Article by Ven. Piyadasssi Maha Tera
