Compassion in Action: How Buddhist Practice Brought Healing and Harmony to My Family

All Buddhist practitioners hope for the happiness of their families and wish for their support in their spiritual journey. Many also long for their parents and loved ones to embrace Buddhism themselves. The most effective way to share the teachings of Buddhism with our loved ones is by helping them experience the compassion and blessings of the Buddha firsthand and witness the tangible effects of Buddhist practices.

For elderly family members, health is often their most pressing concern, and ensuring their well-being is the best gift we can offer. I applied the medical knowledge I learned from my Master to help my parents address some health issues, earning their understanding and support for my Buddhist practice.

I have been working far from home for many years, separated from my parents. During my visit home for the Spring Festival in 2007, my father mentioned that he had suffered from a lingering cold for one to two months and was worried it would ruin the holiday. He also shared that for the past two winters, he had experienced prolonged colds that took months to recover from, despite medication and injections. Hearing about my father’s illness, I felt deep regret for not taking better care of my parents.

I remembered a special tea formulated by my Master to treat colds. Though I had some with me, its potency might have diminished over time. Despite this, I left it for my parents, hoping it could alleviate their discomfort.

After the holiday, I returned to the city where I worked, thousands of miles away, and didn’t follow up. One day, I received a call from my father asking if I had more of that tea, as it had worked remarkably well. He said his cold improved after just one dose. He even shared some with a neighbor, who also experienced immediate relief. However, the supply I had left was nearly gone, and my father asked if I could send more.

As the next Spring Festival approached, I called to ask my parents what they needed. My father repeatedly insisted they wanted nothing except more of the tea. To this day, six years later, my father still praises its effectiveness. Since then, his colds have become rare and brief, lasting only a few days instead of months. His trust and gratitude are profound, as he personally experienced the remarkable transition from months of suffering to immediate relief. This positive transformation, rooted in the benefits of Buddhist medicine, deepened my parents’ trust in Buddhism and their understanding of my spiritual practice.

In late 2008, my mother developed a symmetrical eczema on her legs that caused unbearable itching. Years of treatments failed to resolve the condition, and visits to the hospital only provided short-lived relief at significant cost. My mother, disheartened and stressed, avoided sharing her struggles with others out of fear of judgment. Reassuring her that the condition was not contagious, I decided to apply my knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine. After trying various methods, I finally found a prescription that cured the condition after just one treatment. Over six months have passed without any recurrence. The unexpected effectiveness of this treatment was not due to my own abilities but to the compassion and blessings of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, who alleviated my mother’s suffering.

In 2011, my Master developed a special fragrant medicine to address a subtle and concealed illness. I sent some to my parents with instructions on how to use it. Trusting its efficacy from past experiences, they carefully followed the instructions and cherished the herbal sachets they created. My mother later shared that since using the sachets, both she and my father had rarely caught colds.

Through these experiences, my mother often remarks on the remarkable effectiveness of the medicines associated with our Buddhist practice. I explained that these results are due to the Buddha’s blessings, and she wholeheartedly agreed.

Of course, the benefits my parents have received from my Buddhist practice extend far beyond health and medicine. Though their age and circumstances may limit their ability to study Buddhism directly, they have still found peace and a brighter path through the teachings I have shared with them.

Practicing Buddhism has fulfilled my hope of honoring my parents and has demonstrated the deep connection between Buddhist teachings and everyday life. This is the Buddha’s compassion in action and a testament to the transformative power of the Dharma.

by Hou