The Practice of the Medicine Buddha

introduction

The transmission of the Medicine Buddha Sutra originated from Manjushri Bodhisattva's request to the Buddha to expound the names of all Buddhas and their great vows and merits. At Manjushri's request, the Buddha then expounded this sutra on the supreme vows and merits of the Medicine Buddha beneath the Music-Tree in the city of Vaisali.

Among all Buddhas of the ten directions, the Medicine Buddha holds the special vow to eliminate all physical and mental afflictions and sufferings of sentient beings. Therefore, while the Great Physician is a distinctive emblem of the Medicine Buddha, the Medicine Buddha can also be regarded as the concrete embodiment of the supreme medical master's unique virtue shared by all Tathagatas.

The Vows and Symbolism of the Medicine Buddha

Before attaining Buddhahood, Medicine Buddha vowed twelve great aspirations: that all beings may be free from suffering and attain peace, enjoy physical and mental well-being, eliminate karmic obstacles, and fulfill their aspirations. These twelve great vows address not only physical healing but also the profound path of spiritual purification. Most crucially, the first great vow of the Medicine Buddha states: “May I, upon attaining Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi in my future life, radiate brilliant light that illuminates innumerable, immeasurable, and boundless worlds. May my body be adorned with the Thirty-two Major Marks and Eighty Minor Marks, enabling all sentient beings to become like me.” Thus, the first great vow of the Medicine Buddha clearly reveals: The Medicine Buddha acknowledges that we are already the Medicine Buddha in this very life! This is the most sublime, true secret meaning: All sentient beings present are the Medicine Buddha!

Living in this world of suffering, we endure various afflictions such as aging, death, illness, and poverty. Thus, the Medicine Buddha compassionately attends to sentient beings' present needs for peace and happiness:

• May all beings attain pure and upright bodies and minds, free from all sickness and suffering;
• May the impoverished find sustenance without want; May the bereaved and lonely find companionship;
• May those who walk the path of evil return to the right way, and those who have fallen into the evil realms be delivered.
• May all sentient beings be liberated from the darkness of ignorance and attain the light of wisdom.

Thus, with this great vow to fulfill all worldly and transcendent needs of sentient beings, the Medicine Buddha is reverently honored as the “Medicine Buddha Who Dispels Calamities and Extends Life.”

The Medicine Buddha Dharani and Its Significance in Practice

The Medicine Buddha Mantra, fully titled “The True Mantra of the Medicine Buddha's Empowerment,” is also known as “The Mantra for Eliminating All Suffering of Sentient Beings.” This mantra embodies the energy and blessings of the Medicine Buddha's Twelve Great Vows. When reciting the mantra, we resonate with the Medicine Buddha's compassionate vows, allowing that “pure crystal light” to permeate our body, mind, and daily life.

Reciting the Medicine Buddha Mantra is not merely a prayer for health and longevity, but a practice for cultivating the mind and nurturing the spirit. Through focus, relaxation, and mindful observation, we can achieve the following during recitation:

• Transform anxiety and fear into inner peace;
• Dissolve habitual tendencies and attachments, Awaken the heart of compassion;
• Enhance mindfulness and concentration;
• Shine light and blessings upon yourself and the world. Cultivate virtuous connections, benefiting both yourself and others.

  With a pure heart, I dedicate the merits of this recitation to bless:

• No more plagues, sickness, poverty, war, or other sufferings shall exist in the world; Peace and happiness shall reign, and Earth shall become a pure land.

• All beings dwell in the ultimate bliss of the Buddha, indistinguishable from the Medicine Buddha.

• All medical professionals, caregivers, and rescuers—may they find peace and well-being in body and mind, thus attaining enlightenment.
• May all who resolve to recite these verses, along with their entire household and loved ones, enjoy peace of mind and body, health, enlightenment, happiness, and compassion.
  

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Cultivating the Vows of the Medicine Buddha: From Sutras and Mantras to Practice and Ultimate Perfection

In the preface to How to Practice the Medicine Buddha Sutra, Master Hung Chi-Sung states: “The Medicine Buddha Sutra is not merely a scripture; it is a classic for life.”
The Practice of the Medicine Buddha should not be confined to mere recitation; rather, we must integrate the aspiration to “become the Medicine Buddha” into our daily lives. Through sutra recitation, mantra recitation, and visualization, we strive to become “Medicine Buddhas” ourselves—using compassion to alleviate suffering in the world and wisdom to guide all beings toward awakening.

The Medicine Buddha's “Vow of Buddhahood” is the “Vow of Peace and Happiness.” The peace and happiness He aspires to is not the seclusion of a hermit, but rather enabling life to remain serene, clear-minded, and free within the world.
Therefore, the ultimate purpose of the Practice of the Medicine Buddha is not merely to pray for external peace, but to awaken the inner “Lapis Lazuli Light”—so that our body and mind become transparent, gentle, and steadfast, and we can see directly that our own heart is the Buddha’s heart.

Modern Pharmacy

In modern society, the Medicine Buddha practice is particularly well-suited as a daily spiritual discipline. Each morning or evening, or whenever the thought arises—whether while walking, waiting for a bus, or riding in a vehicle—constantly visualize the Medicine Buddha emitting light that illuminates both yourself and all sentient beings. Visualize that you yourself are the Medicine Buddha and all beings are the Medicine Buddha. Recite the sacred name “Namo Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Light” or chant the Medicine Buddha Dharani.

When mindfulness and aspiration unite, the Medicine Buddha not only safeguards our health and well-being but also subtly transforms the course of our lives—empowering us to cultivate gentle wisdom and compassion, thereby bringing enlightened happiness to ourselves and others.

The Twelve Great Vows of the Medicine Buddha   ─Excerpt from The Sutra on the Original Vows and Merits of the Medicine Buddha

The First Great Vow: May I, upon attaining Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi in my next life, radiate a brilliant light that illuminates innumerable, immeasurable, and boundless worlds. May my body be adorned with the Thirty-two Major Marks and Eighty Minor Marks, enabling all sentient beings to attain perfection like mine.

The Second Great Vow: May I, upon attaining enlightenment in my next life, possess a body like crystal—transparent within and without, pure and free from blemish. May its radiance be vast and boundless, its virtues towering and sublime. May my body dwell in perfect ease, adorned with a net of flames surpassing the sun and moon. May all beings in darkness be enlightened, guided to follow their true nature, and empowered to accomplish all their endeavors.

The Third Great Vow: May I, upon attaining enlightenment in my next life, employ boundless wisdom and skillful means to ensure all sentient beings receive inexhaustible resources for their sustenance, so that no creature shall ever lack for anything.

The Fourth Great Vow: May I, upon attaining enlightenment in my future life, guide all sentient beings who follow deviant paths to dwell securely on the Bodhisattva Path. May those who pursue the paths of the Śrāvaka or Pratyekabuddha be established in the Mahāyāna.

The Fifth Great Vow: May I, upon attaining enlightenment in my future life, guide countless sentient beings practicing the holy life within my Dharma. May all of them attain the complete precepts, possessing the threefold discipline. Should any violate these precepts, upon hearing my name, may they regain purity and avoid falling into the evil realms.

Sixth Great Vow: May I, upon attaining enlightenment in my next life, if any sentient beings possess inferior bodies, imperfect senses, ugliness, stubbornness, blindness, deafness, muteness, or speech impediments,Crippled limbs, paralysis, stooped backs, leprosy, madness—all manner of afflictions; Upon hearing my name, all shall attain uprightness and keen wisdom. Their faculties shall be complete, free from every disease and suffering.

Seventh Great Vow: May I, upon attaining enlightenment in my future life, grant that all sentient beings afflicted by severe illnesses, without aid or refuge, without medicine or physician, without family or home, suffering from poverty and hardship—may all their ailments be completely healed upon hearing my name. May they attain peace of mind and body, and may their families and possessions be abundantly fulfilled, until they themselves attain supreme enlightenment.

The Eighth Great Vow: May I, upon attaining enlightenment in my future life, grant that any woman tormented by the hundred evils of womanhood, who deeply despises and renounces her condition, may renounce her female form. Upon hearing my name, may all such women be transformed into men, endowed with the marks of a noble being, and ultimately attain supreme enlightenment.

The Ninth Great Vow: May I, upon attaining enlightenment in my future life, liberate all sentient beings from the snares of Mara and free them from all bonds of heterodox views. Should they fall into the dense forest of various erroneous views, I shall guide and lead them to the correct view, gradually enabling them to practice the Bodhisattva path and swiftly attain unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment.

The Tenth Vow: May I, upon attaining enlightenment in my future life, liberate all sentient beings who are subjected to the law of kings—bound in chains, flogged, imprisoned, facing execution, or enduring countless other calamities, humiliations, sorrows, and agonies that torment both body and mind. If they hear my name, by the power of my merit and majestic virtue, may they all be freed from all suffering and distress.

The Eleventh Great Vow: When I attain enlightenment in my future life, if any sentient beings, tormented by hunger and thirst, commit evil deeds in search of sustenance, and upon hearing my name, single-mindedly recite and uphold it, I shall first satisfy their bodies with exquisite food and drink. Then, through the taste of the Dharma, I shall establish them in ultimate peace and joy.

Twelfth Great Vow: May I, upon attaining enlightenment in my future life, grant that all sentient beings who are poor and lack clothing, tormented day and night by mosquitoes, flies, cold, and fever, upon hearing my name and devoutly reciting it, receive according to their desires various exquisite garments. May they also obtain all precious adornments, flower garlands, perfumes, drums, music, and various entertainments, fulfilling every wish to their satisfaction.

Conclusion

The Practice of the Medicine Buddha is a path that transforms vow power into action. It teaches us to face darkness with light and to heal suffering with a pure heart.
When we choose to embody the spirit of the Medicine Buddha in our daily lives, we are not merely invoking a single Buddha—we are cultivating our own Medicine Buddha.

May the light of the Medicine Buddha illuminate all directions, Granting all sentient beings peace of mind and body, Removing karmic obstacles, Increasing wisdom, And bringing tranquility to the world.

—Master Hung Chi-Sung