業ごう病びょう

noun

incurable disease from past karma; chronic affliction

A Buddhist concept: a serious, often incurable illness believed to be caused by evil deeds in a previous life. Can also refer more generally to any persistent, hard-to-cure disease. The term carries a sense of karmic retribution and is considered sensitive.

• 彼かれは業ごう病びょうに苦くるしんでいると言いわれていた。

  It was said that he was suffering from an incurable disease caused by past karma.

• その僧そうは業ごう病びょうを治なおすために祈いのりを捧ささげた。

  The monk offered prayers to cure the karmic illness.