The Nine Factors of Causal Relations in Illnesses

“Oh, good man! I say: “If someone gets a good doctor, good medicine, and good attendance; one can drive away the illness. Otherwise, the illness will not depart." Now, what does this mean? Oh, good man! The life-span of such a person is not defined. Although the [expected] end of his life has not yet reached, by the nine factors of the causal relations, it loses his life. What are the nine?

First, it is well aware of the unreliability of food and yet, in contradiction to this, partakes of it.
Second, it eats too much.
Third, it eats even when the former food has not yet been digested.
Fourth, it is not regular in their dealings with nature.
Fifth, even though it is ill, it does not comply with the doctor's words.
Sixth, it does not follow the advice of the medical attendants.
Seventh, it strongly holds things in, and not put them out.
Eighth, it comes out at night. As it comes out at night, the devils come, and attack him.
Ninth, its rooms are not very good.

For this reason, I say that if the patient takes the medicine, his illness will be cured; and if he does not, it will not be cured.”

Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 32, on the Bodhisattva Highly-Virtuous King 6.

nine factors of causal relations in illnesses.mp3