Difficulty with Prostrations

A student was having problems doing physical prostrations due to inflammation of the elbow. The student's letter and Rinpoche's response are below.

STUDENT'S LETTER

Dearest Lama Zopa Rinpoche,

When you were at our Dharma center, out of your incredible kindness, you gave me the Thirty-five Buddhas practice to do daily. I love doing this practice and want to continue doing this for as long as I possibly can. Before doing this practice I had some problems with tennis elbow, an inflammation of the elbow, and after seeing many different types of doctors, one of them gave me a cortisone shot which took away the inflammation.

But now the inflammation has reappeared and even though it doesn't hurt to do the Thirty-five Buddhas practice, after I have finished the pain begins.

I don't want to stop doing the practice and feel that I can continue doing the practice and just live with the pain and work with it in meditation, but some other people are telling me that I could do more damage and I should stop and just visualize doing the practice until the inflammation goes away.

I can get another cortisone shot, but this could just be temporary, and then the pain could flare up again when I start doing the Thirty-five Buddhas practice again. So, please could you tell me what is the best way. Thank you so very, very much.

From the depth of my heart and with the greatest of heartfelt love, Nicola

RINPOCHE'S RESPONSE

Dear Nicola,

You can do the practice with your hands in the mudra of prostrations, reciting the names of the Thirty-five Buddhas, and visualizing them. If you can do a few prostrations that is very good.

Experiencing hardships and sufferings for Dharma practice is very powerful purification practice.

Best wishes ...

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