People eat similar food, why are some always sick while

others hardly ever get sick?

The human body cannot avoid sickness.  Major illness is due

to karma forces, while minor illness is caused by one’s negligence. 

Therefore, there are ghosts from Hell to spread illness, and deities

to descend disasters.  All of them are just following God’s orders.

In addition to negligence, attached to seven emotions and six desires²⁸

also causes illness.  The degree of damage caused by insatiable desires

and wishes is greater than that caused by over-indulgence in food or

lust.  There is a common saying “A tranquil mind makes a shack

comfortable.  A stable nature makes vegetable soup delicious.” 

The Great Learning states “Affluence decorates one’s house, yet

virtues enrich oneself.  When one is free from worries, he would

always be content.”  Thus, a practitioner of Tao should always think

according to the Truth before he speaks, and should always be

cautious to avoid any mistake.  He would do his best and leave

the outcome to God.

We have to know that whatever one deserves, God will not take it

away; whereas whatever God endows, one cannot attempt to change. 

Thus, an adage states “A practitioner of Tao always appreciates and

submits himself to fate.”

In the time of the Three Kingdoms (196 A.D. to 265 A.D.), the city

Luo-yang had a famine.  All in the city suffered starvation except

one who had a radiant look as usual.  Prime Minister Chao inquired

him of the reason and he replied “I had been a vegetarian for thirty

years.”  Thus, one who sincerely practices Tao should maintain a pure

and clean body by eliminating any meat, poultry, fish, garlic, onion

family, leeks, shallot, smoking and drinking.  This way, his chances

of being ill will be reduced.