Methods for Treating Neurasthenia

Method for treating neurasthenia: While sitting in meditation or when quieting down, very slowly recite the Heart Sutra or the Medicine Buddha mantra, reciting while contemplating—contemplate Buddha-light shining upon the head, especially the back of the head; the Buddha-light is golden in color, continuously flowing into the head or into the back of the head. Then contemplate black or gray karmic-obstruction energy repeatedly expelled out from the crown of the head. Practice this until your sleep improves and you can no longer contemplate any black energy—at that point, you no longer need to continue the contemplation. The better your meditative concentration (samādhi), the more effective this is; for those with relatively good concentration, this method is very effective, and it can also strengthen concentration, leading to samādhi quickly. The golden Buddha-light may be contemplated as entering from the crown of the head from all directions—either directly or at an angle. The stronger your concentration, the wider the range of your contemplation, and this in turn can rapidly enhance concentration. You may imagine it yourself and contemplate in whatever way is convenient. Diseases in other parts of the body can also be treated by contemplating in accordance with this method. You may also contemplate on behalf of others, but then you must bear their karmic burden for them.