May 17

I Believe in Medicine Also

Question: Is it interfering with one’s karma to take medicine?

Sri Gurudev: I believe in prayer, but I believe in medicine also. Medicine is also a gift from God. Prayer, medicine and certain dietetic disciplines all could be used at the same time. Even food could be considered a medicine for the pain of hunger. If you believe in prayer, the hunger should just go away. If you eat, then why can’t you take medicine also? Prayer is one form of healing. We can use all the possible ways.

The important thing is, don’t let others do everything for your sake. You should also do something. When people send their prayer requests here, we ask them also to pray at the same time. It’s not, “You do whatever you want, I’ll pray for you and you will get well.” That’s not right. That is interfering with karma. The people who are affected should also go through certain disciplines in life. The pain comes to make you believe in a higher spirit, a higher power.

There is nothing wrong with looking for some remedy for a problem. If your karma is that strong, even with all the remedies, it won’t get cured. Then you know, yes, your karma is stronger than that. Accept it. But when somebody comes and offers, “Shall I help you?”, then your karma is bringing somebody to help you. Accept it.