Doctors often say: “Of all the ways to stay healthy, mental balance is key.” In other words, it’s not just about physical health — nurturing a positive mindset and uplifting your spirit can play a crucial role in strengthening your immune system.
How kindness strengthens immunity
Back in 1995, researchers in the United States made a surprising discovery: Kindness can directly boost immunity. They conducted an experiment where participants were asked to hold feelings of compassion and care toward others for just five minutes. Afterward, the researchers analyzed the participants’ saliva and found that levels of immunoglobulin A — a key antibody in the immune system — had increased by approximately 50 percent.
Even maintaining a kind mindset for a mere five minutes resulted in a measurable boost in immunity.
Another study, conducted in the 1980s at Harvard University, revealed a similar effect known as the “Mother Teresa effect.” Volunteers watched a film depicting Mother Teresa’s selfless care for the sick. After viewing, their saliva samples showed a significant rise in immunoglobulin A levels. In contrast, a control group that watched a film about Hitler showed no such change.
Neuroscientific research has confirmed that when people perform kind deeds, not only does their immunity improve, but their social skills, judgment, and mental well-being also benefit. On the other hand, harboring negative thoughts or ill intentions can disrupt the body’s natural positive cycles and harm your health.
Giving leads to receiving
Many people today believe that being a good person often leads to personal loss. However, a 2007 scientific study drew a very different conclusion. Researchers reviewed over 100 studies from more than 40 U.S. universities and found a remarkable pattern: acts of kindness trigger a powerful form of reciprocal energy. Whether through forgiveness, respect, or compassion, these actions often bring unexpected rewards, aligning with the old Chinese saying: “Good seeds yield good fruit.”
A story about a forest ranger illustrates this well. During a routine patrol, he found a civet cat trapped and in grave danger. Despite the risk of scaling a steep cliff, the ranger rescued the animal and brought it to a veterinarian. The vet discovered that the civet was pregnant and decided to postpone surgery until after it gave birth. The ranger cared for both the mother and her newborns, eventually releasing them back into the forest.
Later, the ranger found himself in peril when a sudden landslide trapped him. As he lay suffocating and helpless, he saw the civet he had once saved appear before him. Strangely, the civet turned and walked away. It turned out the animal had fetched nearby forest workers, who were able to rescue the ranger just in time. This story reminds us that even a single act of kindness can yield life-saving returns when we least expect it.
A village spared from a deadly epidemic
The Qing Dynasty scholar Ji Xiaolan recorded a remarkable story in his book Notes from the Thatched Cottage of Reading. Ji’s father-in-law, Ma Yongtu, recounted how his hometown — Nanyang Village in Dongguang County, Hebei Province — was once spared from a devastating plague.
Decades earlier, a man surnamed Liao had organized a charitable effort to raise funds and build graves for unclaimed remains. The villagers supported his cause, ensuring that the dead had a resting place.
Years later, in the early Yongzheng period, a deadly plague swept through Dongguang County. One night, Liao dreamed of more than a hundred people standing at his door. One of them stepped forward and said: “The plague spirits are approaching. Please craft over a hundred wooden knives and burn them for us. We intend to battle the spirits as repayment for the villagers’ kindness in building graves for us.” Liao followed the dream’s instructions.
A few days later, villagers heard the sounds of fighting echoing around their village at night. Yet, come morning, no traces of combat were found. Miraculously, during the plague outbreak, not a single person in Nanyang Village fell ill. Without vaccines or modern medicine, the villagers’ collective kindness and virtue seemed to shield them from harm.
Compassion overcomes disease
Another story from ancient times recounts the tale of a royal chef who, after retiring, lived comfortably in his hometown. However, when an epidemic struck the town, he attempted to avoid infection by isolating himself at home. Despite his efforts, he soon fell gravely ill, vomiting blood and growing weaker by the day.
From an upper window, he looked down at the streets filled with sick and dying townspeople. Overwhelmed with pity and realizing that wealth could not save him, he had a change of heart. He ordered his servants to distribute food and clothing to the poor and personally arranged burials for the dead.
His selfless actions inspired the town’s other wealthy residents to follow suit, transforming the town’s atmosphere into one of care and generosity.
One month later, the chef dreamed of a Taoist riding a celestial crane who sang: “Great virtue is the best remedy, better than a thousand gold prescriptions. Why rely on herbal decoctions, when virtue cures all ailments?”
The Taoist tossed him a box of elixir pills. Upon waking, the chef found the box in his hand. He dissolved the elixir into a large cauldron and distributed it to the sick. Amazingly, those who drank the medicine recovered quickly. The plague, which had ravaged the town for months, was finally quelled.
The emperor later heard of this and inscribed the words “The Best Prescription — Virtue,” ensuring that the story would be remembered throughout history.
Cultivating positive energy today
Although modern society has advanced, the world continues to face epidemics. Scientific studies have shown that nurturing positive thoughts and frequently repeating uplifting words can generate beneficial energy.
A simple and effective way to elevate one’s spirit is to often recite phrases like “Falun Dafa is good” and “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance is good.” Falun Dafa is a spiritual practice rooted in kindness, teaching people to be good, selfless, and tolerant. By sincerely embodying these principles, you can fill yourself with positive energy, strengthening both body and mind.
Translated by Katy Liu
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