The Most Powerful Healer of All
Medicine Buddha (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Medicine Buddha and Dorje Shugden
Deity: Medicine Buddha (English)
Alternative names: Bhaisajyaguru (Sanskrit), Menlha (Tibetan)
The Medicine Buddha made a vow during a previous aeon that if any being who suffers from sickness calls upon on him, he will heal them. Illnesses can be both mental and physical, but the root causes for any illness are ignorance, hatred and desire. From the three root causes arises the 84,000 mental afflictions which manifest as various diseases of the body and mind. The practice of Medicine Buddha is said to purify, counter and heal these afflictions.
According to scriptural sources, the Medicine Buddha is believed to reside in the eastern pure land of “Vaiduryanirbhasa” or the “Pure Lapis Lazuli”. There, he is attended by two Bodhisattvas symbolising the light of the sun and the light of the moon respectively, Suryaprabha (Radiance of the Sun) and Candraprabha (Radiance of the Moon).
Images of the Medicine Buddha and his actual practice are also powerful for purifying the environment in order to avoid natural disasters. The practice of Medicine Buddha is said to be the most powerful healer of all our inner and outer diseases and can eventually bring us to full enlightenment. Reciting the Medicine Buddha mantra and blowing onto both people and animals is said to purify the immediate negative karma afflicting them and can also help them to take a good rebirth.
It is good practice to recite the mantra of Medicine Buddha and blow on animals to help them take positive rebirths where they can practise the Dharma. It is also beneficial to blow the mantra onto animal bones or remains, even though they are long dead to help them take good rebirth in the future. Medicine Buddha practice has many and varied benefits and therefore very prevalent within all schools of Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism.
Deity: Dorje Shugden (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Vajra Rudra (Sanskrit)
Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He took the form of a Dharma Protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings, especially the important teachings on the Middle Way View. Reminiscent of Manjushri’s form, Dorje Shugden carries a meandering sword and rides a snowlion that represents the fearlessness of a fully enlightened Buddha. Thus, he has great strength to overcome obstacles of the body, speech and mind, and create suitable conditions for our spiritual practice to flourish. Furthermore, he carries a jewel-spitting mongoose and a vajra hook to symbolise that he has the tremendous ability to bestow wealth and resources.
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Medicine Buddha known as The Supreme Healer alleviates suffering using the remedy of his wisdom. Medicine Buddha is an enlightened being who has compassion for all sentient beings. He safeguards living beings from physical and psychological sickness. He also helps those who sick to dissolve the three forms of poison – attachment, hatred, and ignorance which are the source of all diseases and danger. Merely by seeing the image of the Medicine Buddha and his mantra showers us with blessings. And merely hearing Medicine Buddha’s name will also have some healing influence on the ones who heard his name.