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Bhaisajyaguru (藥師佛／薬師 Ch. Yàoshī, Jp. Yakushi), more formally Bhaisajyaguruvaiduryaprabha (Jp. 薬師瑠璃光如来 Yakushirorikō nyorai) and also known as the Master of Healing or Medicine Buddha, is the Buddha of healing. His full name means "Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light". In Mahayana Buddhism, Bhaisajyaguru represents the healing aspect of the historical Buddha Sakyamuni. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between approximately 566 and 486 BCE. Originating in India, Buddhism gradually spread throughout Asia to Central Asia... The cultural elements of Buddhism vary by region and include: Buddhist cuisine Buddhist art Buddharupa Art and architecture of Japan Greco-Buddhism Tibetan Buddhist sacred art Buddhist music Buddhist chant Shomyo Categories: Buddhism-related stubs ... The history of Buddhism spans from the 6th century BCE to the present, starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddharta Gautama. ... Contents: Top - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z The following is a List of Buddhist topics: A Abhidharma Ahimsa Ajahn Ajahn Chah Ajanta Aksobhya Alexandra David-Néel Amara Sinha B... Buddhist beliefs and practices vary according to region. ... The percentage of Buddhist population of each country was taken from the US State Departments International Religious Freedom Report 2004 [1]. Other sources used were CIA Factbook [2] and adherents. ... An image of Gautama Buddha with a swastika, traditionally a Buddhist symbol of good luck, on his chest. ... The Buddhist temple Wat Chiang Man, in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which dates from the late 13th century Buddhist temples and monasteries, sorted by location. ... Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term. ... There is great variety in Buddhist texts. ... // Before Common Era Trad. ... Chinese (written) language (pinyin: zhōngw n) written in Chinese characters The Chinese language (汉语/漢語, 华语/華語, or 中文; Pinyin: H nyǔ, Hu yǔ, or Zhōngw n) is a member of the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. ... Japanese (日本語,   Nihongo?) is a language of as-yet unknown origins spoken by over 127 million people, mainly in Japan, but also by Japanese emigrant communities around the world. ... A stone image of the Buddha. ... A block of lapis lazuli Lapis lazuli is one of the oldest of all gems, with a history of use stretching back 7,000 years. ... Relief image of the bodhisattva Guan Yin (Avalokitesvara) from Mt. ... Standing Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE. Gautama Buddha was a South Asian spiritual leader who lived between approximately 563 BCE and 483 BCE. Born Siddhartha Gautama in Sanskrit, a name meaning descendant of Gotama whose aims are achieved/who is efficacious in achieving aims, he...

Origin

Bhaisajyaguru is described in the eponymous Bhaisajyaguru-sutra (Jp. 薬師経 Yakushi-kyō) as bodhisattva who made and fulfilled 12 vows, two of them related to healing. On achieving Buddhahood, he became the Buddha of the realm of Vaiduryanirbhasa (Jp. 浄瑠璃 Jōruri) in the eastern quarter, where he is attended to by the bodhisattvas Nikko and Gakko. Yakushi is notably absent from the Mandala of the Two Realms, but is one of the Thirteen Buddhas. Prince Siddhartha Gautama as a bodhisattva, before becoming a Buddha. ... Bodhi (Pali and Sanskrit. ... The Mandala of the Two Realms (Jp. ... The Thirteen Buddhas (Jp. ...

Iconography

Bhaisajyaguru is typically depicted seated, wearing monk's robes, with a blue-colored jar of medicine in his left hand and the right hand resting on his right knee, holding the stem of the aurara plant between thumb and first finger. Image of Medicine Buddha Medicine on the Web NLM (National Library of Medicine, contains resources for patients and healthcare professionals) Virtual Hospital (digital health sciences library by the University of Iowa) Online Medical Dictionary Collection of links to free medical resources Categories: Medicine | Health ...

Role in Japan

Starting in the 7th century Yakushi has been the object of a popular cult in Japan, largely supplanting the previous cult of Ashuku (Akshobhya). Some of Yakushi's role has been taken over by Jizo (Ksitigarbha), but Yakushi still presides over the Japanese Buddhist memorial service to dead. // Events Islam starts in Arabia, the Quran is written, and Syria, Iraq, Persia, North Africa and Central Asia convert to Islam. ... In Vajrayana Buddhism, Akshobhya (Sanskrit for Immovable One, Jp. ... Jizo statue at Mt. ...

Role in Tibet

The practice of Medicine Buddha, the Supreme Healer (or Sangye Menla in Tibetan) is not only a very powerful method for healing and increasing healing powers both for oneself and others, but also for overcoming the inner sickness of attachment, hatred, and ignorance, thus to meditate on the Medicine Buddha can help decrease physical and mental illness and suffering. Meditation usually refers to a state of extreme relaxation and concentration, in which the body is generally at rest and the mind quieted of surface thoughts. ...

Tibetan Buddhists consider the Medicine Buddha Empowerment to be the most powerful blessing for healing, dispelling sickness and for awakening the innate healing wisdom that lies within every individual. Tibetan Buddhism, (formerly also called Lamaism after their religious gurus known as lamas), is the body of religious Buddhist doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and the Himalayan region. ...

At the Shenpen Osel website (external links section) the very venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche gives a wonderful and detailed commentary on the Medicine Buddha. One will need to download "Acrobat Reader" program offered free at the site in order to use the PDF file. At their site click on Volume 4, Number 1 to download the commentaries and sadhana on the Medicine Buddha.

The Mantras

This is the long version of the Medicine Buddha Mantra:

Om Namo Bhagavate Bhaisajyaguru Vaidurya Prabharajaya Tathagataya Arhate Samyak Sambuddhaya Tadyatha Om Bekaja Bekaja Maha bekaja bekaja Raja Samudgate Soha

Phonetically, it sounds like: Heisann ...

Om Nah Moe Bah-ga-va-tay Bye-Saya-guru Vye-Dur-Yah Proba-Raja-Yah, Tata-Gata-Yah, Arh-Ha-Tay, Sam-Yak-Sam Buddha-Yah Tay-Ya-Tah Om Bay-Kah-Jay Bay-Ka-Jay Mah-Hah Bay-Kah-Jay Bay-Ka-Jay Rah-Jah Sah-Moo-gah-tay, So-hah!

This is the short version of the Medicine Buddha Mantra, which is known as the Medicine Budddha Heart Mantra:

Tayata Om Bhaykandze Bhaykandze Maha Bhaykandze Bhaykandze Radza Samudgate Soha

Phonetically, it sounds like:

Tah-yah-tah OM, beck-and-zay beck-and-zay, mah-hah beck-and-zay beck-and-zay, rod-zah sah-moo-gah-tay, so-hah!

Medicine Buddha Resources

The Medicine Buddha Mantra in Tibetan Buddhism

The Tibetan Buddhist tradition has the mantra transliterated and pronounced as the following:

Medicine Buddha Long Mantra:

OM NAMO BHAGAVATE BHEKHANDZYE/ GURU BAIDURYA/ PRABHA RADZAYA/ TATHAGATAYA/ ARHATE SAMYAKSAM BUDDHAYA/ TADYATHA/ OM BHEKHANDZYE BHEKHANDZYE MAHA BHEKHANDZYE [BHEKHANDZYE]/ RADZA SAMUDGATE SVAHA (the word in parenthesis is optional; i.e. the mantra can be recited with or without it)

Medicine Buddha Short Mantra:

TADYATHA/ OM BHEKHANDZYE BHEKANDZYE MAHA BHEKHANDZYE [BHEKHANDZYE]/ RADZA SAMUDGATE SVAHA

The Medicine Buddha mantra is held to be extremely powerful for healing of physical illnesses and purification of negative karma. One form of practice based on the Medicine Buddha is done when one is striken by disease. The patient is to recite the long Medicine Buddha mantra 108 times over a glass of water. The water is now believed to be blessed by the power of the mantra and the blessing of the Medicine Buddha himself, and the patient is to drink the water. The practice should be repeated each day until the illness is cured.

Tibetan Buddhism also teaches that the Medicine Buddha mantra can be used to liberate the animals one eats. The practice involves reciting the Medicine Buddha mantra and then blowing on the meat. It is held that the dead animal, wherever it has been reborn, will be liberated from its suffering and reborn into a happy existence.

External Links

• Each of us a Healer: Medicine Buddha and the Karma of Healing

• [http://www.shenpen-osel.org/ Online teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism with an excellent discussion on the Medicine Buddha practice.