Neurological Illness During Retreat
A student doing a one-year retreat had neurological pain and strange sensations in different parts of his body. He felt very weak and had to reduce the number of sessions and their duration for several days. Symptoms included buzzing in his ears, cramps in his hands and shaky fingers.
It’s very beneficial to see the neurologist. Very, very beneficial. It seems that since it is a little bit unbearable, you can go now and then come back and continue the retreat.
The other thing is to read the Golden Light Sutra before going.
Then also listen to the sutra Entering the Great City of Vaishali, a mantra that releases the pain. It came out beneficial to listen to this. You should listen to that tape before going [to the neurologist.] Listen to it four or five times. [Go to FPMT Catalogue and scroll down to "Audio Materials" to find links to Recitations for Alleviating Pain, an audio recording of Rinpoche reciting this sutra and other prayers and mantras.]