Executive Summary: Psoriasis Case Study
An insightful karmic case study from the Dream in Dream Kindergarten Wisdom School, taught by Ven. Luang Por Dhammajayo. This investigation traces the karmic roots of severe psoriasis, manifesting as chronic scaling and agonizing skin inflammation, to past-life cruelty involving the scaling of live fish and skinning of animals, cross-referenced with Theravada Buddhist teachings on karma and bodily contemplation.
1. Past-Life Cruelty: Scaling Live Fish and Skinning Animals
In a past life, this individual worked in the fish trade and culinary preparation. Bound by ignorance and lack of compassion, they routinely scaled immense quantities of fish while the creatures were still alive and writhing in agony. Moreover, they engaged in skinning and tearing the flesh of live animals without considering the intense suffering inflicted upon them.
In certain lifetimes, driven by malicious pranks, they also scattered itching powder, toxic sap, or scalding water onto animals and vulnerable people. This deep-seated karmic intention of cruelty and bodily harm (Vihimsā) crystallized within the mental continuum. When this karma ripened in the present lifetime, it manifested as severe psoriasis—where the skin erupts into inflamed, silvery scales, intensely mimicking the plight of a fish being scraped alive.
2. The Physical Manifestation of Retribution
The physical symptoms of psoriasis directly reflect the specific nature of the past misdeeds:
- Silvery, Peeling Skin Scales: Mirroring the scales forcibly removed from live fish, causing a continuous shedding of the epidermis.
- Severe Burning and Intense Itching: The residual effect of throwing irritating powders or scalding water onto other beings.
- Psychological Distress and Social Anxiety: Enduring the humiliation and suffering that they once callously inflicted on defenseless creatures.
3. Theravada Canonical Tipitaka References
Buddhist scriptures explicitly link chronic physical diseases to past acts of violence and cruelty:
Cula-kammavibhanga Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya 135)
“Here, student, some man or woman is one who harms beings with his hands, with clods, with sticks, or with weapons. Because of performing such action… upon the dissolution of the body, they are reborn in a state of deprivation. If they come back to the human state, wherever they are reborn, they are sickly and afflicted with many diseases.”
Girimananda Sutta (Anguttara Nikaya 10.60): The Buddha expounded the Perception of Danger (Adinavasanna), guiding monks to contemplate the body as a nest of diseases—including leprosy, boils, eczema, and skin diseases—in order to cultivate detachment, disenchantment, and spiritual liberation.
4. Wholesome Remedies and Karmic Alleviation
Luang Por Dhammajayo provided a spiritual roadmap to alleviate this karmic burden alongside medical treatment:
- Consistently Liberating Aquatic Life (Abhayadana): Rescuing live fish from markets that are destined to be scaled and killed, dedicating the merit to protect one’s own skin cells.
- Offering Medicinal Supplies for Skin Ailments: Donating dermatological medicines, lotions, and medical supplies to monks and those in need, yielding the merit of a healthy complexion.
- Radiating Metta and Seeking Forgiveness: Practicing Loving-Kindness meditation, extending sincere apologies to all animals harmed in the past, while strictly maintaining the First Precept (refraining from killing).
