Medicine Buddha: The Supreme Healer for Body, Mind and Spirit
Have you ever wondered if there's a spiritual path to healing that addresses not just physical pain but the root causes of suffering? Medicine Buddha offers exactly that, a comprehensive healing tradition spanning over 1400 years of Buddhist practice.
Who is Medicine Buddha?
The Medicine Buddha, or the Bhaisajyaguru Vaiduryaprabha Raja, translates to "Master of Medicine, King of Lapis Lazuli Light." His body is depicted as a bright lapis lazuli blue, symbolizing the healing properties of purity and infinite sky.
In Buddhist iconography, the blue color is deeply meaningful. It symbolizes the ancient use of lapis lazuli in treatment and therapy, as well as the clear, calm mind that comes with enlightenment.
Beyond Physical Healing
What sets Medicine Buddha apart from conventional healing approaches is his holistic methodology. While modern medicine treats symptoms, Medicine Buddha's teachings address the three root poisons that cause all suffering.
- Ignorance (Moha): Fundamental misunderstanding of reality
- Attachment (Raga): Clinging and craving
- Aversion (Dvesha): Anger, hatred, and rejection
When we eliminate these mental afflictions (klesha), physical and emotional healing naturally follows.
Deep Symbolism and Sacred Iconography
Every aspect of Medicine Buddha's appearance carries profound meaning. Understanding this symbolism deepens your practice and meditation.
The Sacred Lapis Lazuli Blue Body
Medicine Buddha's most distinctive feature is his deep blue body, the color of lapis lazuli, one of humanity's oldest gemstones, valued for over 6000 years.
Why blue?
1. Historical healing properties: In medieval Europe, crushed lapis lazuli was commonly mixed with milk or similar carriers to treat skin conditions, including boils, ulcers, and inflammations, alongside applications for bone disorders despite its known toxicity.
2. Spiritual significance:
- Represents the vast healing potential of the clear, infinite sky
- Symbolizes the transformation of suffering into wisdom
- Embodies the healing power of deep meditative absorption
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In some symbolic interpretations, lapis lazuli is seen as an energy-cleansing stone linked to the kidneys, intestines, and respiratory system.
Symbol
Description
Spiritual Meaning
Lapis Lazuli Blue Body
Radiant deep blue form
Purification, healing energy, infinite compassion
Left hand Holding Bowl
Holds bowl filled with nectar (amrita) in lap
Medicine of Dharma teachings; remedy for aging, death, and rebirth
Right hand
Extended in varada mudra, holding aruna fruit
Granting blessings; kings of medicines in Tibetan system
Meditation posture
Calm, meditative posture
Spiritual balance and serene healing focus
Radiant Halo
Light surrounding the Buddha’s head
Enlightenment and healing energy
Peaceful expression
Calm and compassionate face
Deep empathy and readiness to heal suffering being
The Myrobalan: King of Medicines
The aruna fruit (called arura in Tibetan) is no random choice. In both Ayurveda and Tibetan medicine, this fruit is considered:
- One of the "three fruits" (Triphala) used in countless formulations
- Effective for all three doshas (vata, pitta, kapha)
- A panacea for digestive, respiratory, and rejuvenating therapies
- Symbolic of the Buddha's complete healing knowledge
Browse Medicine Buddha Thangkas
The Twelve Great Vows
According to the Bhaisajyaguru Sutra (Medicine Buddha Sutra), the Medicine Buddha made twelve intense vows after receiving knowledge. These vows are central for his practice and define his role as the Healing Buddha. They include:
- To shine to creatures to take them from darkness to knowledge.
- Providing all beings with basic needs like food, clothes, and shelter.
- Curing all diseases, both physical and mental.
- To guide those who deviate from the virtuous path.
- Helping creatures to obtain moral discipline.
- To heal people with disabilities and deformities.
- Relief from poverty and pain.
- Eliminating the suffering of women, ensuring equality in enlightenment.
- Protect beings from false teachings.
- Helping creatures to overcome harmful habits.
- To fix mental disturbances and guide spiritual awakening.
- Helping creatures at the time of death, ensuring a favorable rebirth or liberation.
These vows and practices make Medicine Buddha one of the most widespread in Mahayana Buddhism, including all aspects of treatment.
The Land of Medicine Buddha
The land of Medicine Buddha, also known as Vaiduryanirbhasa pure land, is described in a scope in Mahayana texts where pain is absent.
This land is made up of lapis lazuli, and its atmosphere is filled with medicinal plants, treatment sounds, and enlightened creatures that help cure diseases and teach religion.
In this pure land, creatures experience the conditions required to achieve complete health, mental clarity, and enlightenment.
Many practitioners aspire to be reborn in the land of the Medicine Buddha. This is a peaceful region where they can continue their spiritual journey, free from disease, pain, and everyday disturbances.
The Medicine Buddha Mantra
His mantra is recited to call for the medical energy of Bhaisajyaguru. It is:
“TAYATA OM BEKANDZE BEKANDZE MAHA BEKANDZE RADZA SAMUDGATE SOHA”
- Meaning of Mantra:
- Tayata: "like this" or "thus"
- Om: Holy syllable representing universal vibrations
- Bekandze Bekandze: "Elimination of the disease; eliminate the disease."
- Maha Backandez: "Eliminate great illness (spiritual pain)."
- Radza Samudgate: "King of Healing"
- Soha: "So this be" or "blessing can settle in the heart."
Practitioners believe that chanting this mantra promotes healing not only for themselves but also for others. It is widely used in Tibetan Buddhism during medical treatment and spiritual treatment ceremonies.
Medicine Buddha in Tibetan Medicine
In the Tibetan medical tradition, he is considered the source of all healing knowledge. According to legend, he was the first to teach medical treatment to the intelligent sages of Tibet and India.
Even today, doctors of Tibet often chant the Medicine Buddha mantra before preparing or using herbal medicines.
They believe that this practice helps in making the drug more effective, combining spiritual treatment with their medical knowledge.
In Thangka Art
A Medicine Buddha thangka is a sacred painting that shows the Medicine Buddha along with healing symbols and herbs. These thangkas are not just artwork. They serve as visual aids for meditation and focus.
The use of a Medicine Buddha thangka allows practitioners to:
- Meditate on the Buddha’s healing light
- Visualize blue rays dissolving sickness and suffering
- Develop compassion for all beings in need of healing
- Keeping a Medicine Buddha thangka at home or in a healing space is a traditional practice in Tibetan Buddhism.
Bring home the timeless healing wisdom of the Medicine Buddha. Explore sacred thangkas and statues at Buddha’s Art of Healing.
Modern Relevance of Medicine Buddha
Today, the Medicine Buddha practice is embraced worldwide. By wellness practitioners, healers, and even medical professionals. His teachings promote a holistic approach to healing, integrating:
- Physical well-being
- Emotional balance
- Spiritual clarity
Many Buddhist centers, including retreats like California’s Land of Medicine Buddha, host healing rituals, meditation retreats, and ceremonies to invoke his blessings for both personal and global healing.
Place a Medicine Buddha thangka in your home today to cultivate healing energy. Explore our collection of hand-painted thangkas and authentic statues now.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Medicine Buddha?
Medicine Buddha, also known as Bhaisajyaguru, is a revered Buddhist deity associated with healing, medicine, and the alleviation of suffering. Practitioners invoke the Medicine Buddha for physical, mental, and spiritual healing, as well as to remove obstacles that hinder progress on the path to enlightenment. He is often depicted holding a medicine bowl, symbolizing his healing powers.
2. Why is Medicine Buddha blue?
Medicine Buddha is depicted blue in color to represent the healing qualities of lapis lazuli, which symbolizes purity, calmness, and the power to heal sickness and negative karma. The blue color also signifies spiritual depth, clarity, and the transformation of ignorance to wisdom, emphasizing his role as the healer of both body and mind.
3. What is the pure land of the medicine Buddha?
The pure land of the Medicine Buddha is also called Vaiduryanirbhasa, or Pure Lapis Lazuli Heaven. It is a pure land in Buddhist cosmology where beings can receive healing, guidance, and blessings. It is depicted as a realm of perfect health and spiritual prosperity, where the teachings of the Medicine Buddha are fully realized and where practitioners can cultivate merit, wisdom, and liberation from suffering.
4. What does Medicine Buddha do?
Medicine Buddha (Bhaisajyaguru) is the Buddha of healing and medicine. He embodies the power to heal physical illness, mental suffering, emotional imbalance, and spiritual obstacles. In Buddhist tradition, Medicine Buddha:
- Removes the causes of disease and suffering
- Supports recovery from illness
- Calms anxiety and emotional distress
- Purifies negative karma
- Promotes long life and inner peace
- Guides practitioners toward enlightenment through compassion and wisdom
He is widely invoked by healers, meditators, and spiritual practitioners for holistic well-being.
5. What are the benefits of chanting the Medicine Buddha mantra?
Chanting the Medicine Buddha mantra is believed to create powerful healing vibrations in both body and mind. Commonly recognized benefits include:
- Supports physical healing and recovery
- Reduces stress, fear, and depression
- Purifies negative karma
- Strengthens compassion and mindfulness
- Improves mental clarity and emotional balance
- Creates positive energy for oneself and others
- Assists the dying and the deceased
Many practitioners recite the mantra daily as part of meditation, prayer, or healing rituals.
6. Which companies sell authentic Medicine Buddha thangka paintings?
There are many online platforms and companies that sell authentic Medicine Buddha thangka paintings. Authentic Medicine Buddha thangkas are traditionally hand-painted by trained artisans following strict Tibetan iconographic guidelines. Buddha's Art of Healing is one of the most reputable companies that sells authentic Medicine Buddha thangkas, including other Tibetan thangkas and mandalas, using natural pigments and pure 24k gold by professional and experienced artisans.
