“There is a body, therefore there is sickness,” means that we inevitably have to face disease and suffering. Although the physical body can be treated with medical science, “disease originates in the mind,” which reminds us to reflect on the root causes of the disease. In other words, can we transform our mind when confronted with disease? The two masters emphasise practice and liberation, and Master Zhiyi says that “single-pointed concentration eliminates all ills,” and that “single-pointedness of the ill mind is the dharmanature of the dharma-realm.” Master Sheng-yen says that “good intentions cure all ills,” referring to Chan sickness.
Buddhism as the study of life, or as the medicine of the mind, will not say otherwise, that is, the doctrine of the sudden and perfect practice. This paper intends to explore the views of Masters Zhiyi and Sheng-yen and their views of disease and comparative discussion of therapeutic methods. This may provide another direction for the study of physical and mental healing. This paper combines the Perfect Teaching, the therapeutic method of cessation and contemplation, and the “good intentions” of Sheng-yen’s treatment of Chan sickness, in particular, to achieve the “mindless” state of physical and mental comfort to cure the Chan sickness.
