The Medicine Buddha

The Medicine Buddha

Medicine Buddha, also known as Bhaisajyaguru or "Master of Healing," embodies the supreme healing power of enlightened mind within Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. With his distinctive lapis lazuli blue radiance, he represents the ultimate antidote to the three poisons of ignorance, attachment, and aversion that create suffering and illness in samsara. The Medicine Buddha's compassionate vows specifically address the alleviation of physical suffering, mental anguish, and spiritual obscurations. His practice remains particularly vital in Tibetan Buddhist lineages, where his healing energies are invoked for both worldly well-being and the ultimate healing of attaining enlightenment. By visualizing his form and reciting his mantras, practitioners connect with their own innate capacity for self-healing and the transmission of healing benefit to others.

Mantra & Sacred Chants

• The primary mantra "Tayata Om Bekandze Bekandze Maha Bekandze Radza Samudgate Soha" activates the Buddha's healing energies

• Recitation purifies karma related to illness and strengthens the body's natural healing abilities

• Often chanted during healing ceremonies, while preparing medicine, or at sickbeds

• Traditionally recited 108 times or in multiples of seven to honor the Medicine Buddha's seven healing vows

• Said to continue working even when chanted without perfect concentration due to the power of the Buddha's compassion

Ritual Significance in Buddhist Practice

• Central figure in elaborate healing ceremonies and empowerments in Vajrayana traditions

• Invoked during preparation of consecrated medicines and healing substances

• Visualized in meditations for both self-healing and sending healing energy to others

• Featured in rituals during epidemics, natural disasters, and times of widespread suffering

• Essential component of Tibetan medical training and practice through the centuries

Symbolic Attributes & Iconography

• Lapis Lazuli Blue Body: Symbolizes the pure, clear nature of mind and the transmutation of suffering

• Medicine Bowl: Held in left hand, containing healing nectar and medicinal substances

• Arura Plant (myrobalan): Held in right hand, representing the supreme medicine that cures all ills

• Sun Disk Throne: Signifies the illumination of ignorance that is the root cause of illness

• Surrounding Healing Plants: Often depicted with medicinal herbs in background representing nature's healing power

Meditative Postures & Gestures

• Varada Mudra: Right hand extended downward in gift-bestowing gesture, offering healing

• Dhyana Mudra: Left hand in meditation posture holding the bowl of medicine

• Serene Expression: Reflects perfect equanimity and compassion toward all forms of suffering

• Seven Companions: Sometimes shown surrounded by seven other Medicine Buddhas representing different aspects of healing

Spiritual Purpose & Benefits

• Transforms health obstacles into opportunities for spiritual insight and purification

• Develops compassion through connecting with the suffering of oneself and others

• Cultivates understanding of the relationship between mind, emotions, and physical well-being

• Supports recovery from both physical and mental illnesses through purification of underlying causes

• Provides protection from untimely death and negative circumstances affecting health

Sacred Applications

• Primary practice during illness or recovery for oneself or others

• Focal point for healthcare practitioners seeking to infuse their work with compassionate wisdom

• Displayed in healing rooms, hospitals, and spaces devoted to therapeutic practices

• Essential support for psychological healing from trauma, addiction, and mental afflictions

• Meditation focus for those working to transform habitual patterns that create suffering

• Invoked during the preparation of herbal medicines and healing substances to enhance efficacy