Question asked by Sing Loo
Dear Pastors,
Recently, a friend of mine told me that her sister, who is quite spiritual went to see a well-known nadi leaf master. The Nadi Leaf master told her that by right, she would have been dead by now as there is no further reading available on the Nadi Leaf for her. Needless to say, her sister is still very much alive.
May I know, from the Buddhist point of view, is this phenomenon a usual one?
Thank you in advance.
Dear Sing Loo,
In Buddhism, there are many methods to extend one’s life. It is believed that our lifespan is predetermined by karma. However, that karma can be altered based on the merits we accrued in relations to Buddhist long life practices.
One can engage in formal long life practices like Amitayus, White Tara, 16 Arhats, Yamantaka, Lama Tsongkhapa’s Gaden Lhagyama, etc etc. One can also extend one’s life through animal liberation, Dharma work and one of the most powerful ways to extend one’s life is when one receives monastic ordination or when one takes on the robes and becomes a monk or nun. Becoming a nun or monk is not a long life practice per se but it is so meritorious that it clears much negative karma and increases our merits, so much so that it extends our lives. The same goes for engaging in Dharma work. Therefore, the phenomenon you mentioned is not actually unusual. I hope this helps give insight to you about this.