Question about Medicine Buddha

[Nosta]

Hi!
I dont know exactly to wich tradition belongs Medicine Buddha, so thats why i am posting in this subforum.

What i would like to ask is: do you see Medicine Buddha as a real being able to physically heal someone under certain circunstances (like, deep recitation of His name, long practice, etc)?

Other question is: can you recitate His name to heal other people?

Anyone here as ever see His powers healing someone (be it yourself or other people)?

[catmoon]

Hi!
I dont know exactly to wich tradition belongs Medicine Buddha, so thats why i am posting in this subforum.

What i would like to ask is: do you see Medicine Buddha as a real being able to physically heal someone under certain circunstances (like, deep recitation of His name, long practice, etc)?

Other question is: can you recitate His name to heal other people?

Anyone here as ever see His powers healing someone (be it yourself or other people)?

Nope. I've tried mantra practice, but kitty died anyhow.

[BFS]

Hi!
I dont know exactly to wich tradition belongs Medicine Buddha, so thats why i am posting in this subforum.

What i would like to ask is: do you see Medicine Buddha as a real being able to physically heal someone under certain circunstances (like, deep recitation of His name, long practice, etc)?

Other question is: can you recitate His name to heal other people?

Anyone here as ever see His powers healing someone (be it yourself or other people)?

Hi Nosta,

There is a little on line booklet called "I Wonder Why" that you may find helpful. It covers a lot of the most basic fundamental questions and issues that arise in the minds of modern individuals.

http://www.kmspks.org/pdf/Wonder.pdf

[Devotee]

Hi!
I dont know exactly to wich tradition belongs Medicine Buddha, so thats why i am posting in this subforum.

What i would like to ask is: do you see Medicine Buddha as a real being able to physically heal someone under certain circunstances (like, deep recitation of His name, long practice, etc)?

Other question is: can you recitate His name to heal other people?

Anyone here as ever see His powers healing someone (be it yourself or other people)?

Nope. I've tried mantra practice, but kitty died anyhow.

Curing doesn't mean resurrecting. The Medicine Buddha Sutra NEVER promised immortality; instead, life will only be prolonged, to the point that the being can resolve remaining Karma.Kitty probably had run the end of the line, at least you showed her your love and compassion. BTW If the Sutra taught immortality, it wouldn't be a Buddhist text.

Nosta: the Medicine Buddha can be found in almost all mahayana traditions. The benefits from his practice can be read in the Sutra, please google it for an English translation, there are a lot around.

As to whether or not he is an actual being OR a state of mind: would it matter if he is one and not the other? Why can't it be both? :p

[gregkavarnos]

What i would like to ask is: do you see Medicine Buddha as a real being

Someone asked this of my teacher at a Medicine Buddha teaching and he answered yes, the Medicine Buddha was a real person who through his practice and vows became enlightened.

able to physically heal someone under certain circunstances (like, deep recitation of His name, long practice, etc)?

Again yes, his practice can be used to physically heal. There are a number of versions though and the preparations for the ritual are quite elaborate. His practice can range from a simple devotional type to full higher yoga tantra.

Other question is: can you recitate His name to heal other people?

Yes, but what do you mean by heal? If somebodies life force (which is based on karma) is finished then the healing may not have physical implications but mental implications (which ultimately are of greater importance). That is that they may die or not be healed of their disease but their mind will not be overcome by negative emtions like hatred, ignorance, fear of death etc... This will assist them greatly during the bardo of death and may help them gain a positive rebirth.

Anyone here as ever see His powers healing someone (be it yourself or other people)?

No, for me Sangye Menla is more an inspirational figure, both in my professional and personal life I try to apply the practices contained in his twelve great vows to guide my life and how I deal with people. These practices defintely have a healing effect!

THE TWELVE VOWS OF THE MEDICINE BUDDHA

Having considered the countless sufferings and illnesses of beings, the bodhisattva "Master of Remedies" (Bhaishajyaguru) developed a very great love and a very great desire for helping them all. He progressed on the spiritual path, formulated twelve great wishes and finally attained the state of Medicine Buddha.

1. To spread his light in innumerable worlds and to make others equal to him.
2. To illuminate all beings plunged into darkness.
3. To fulfil the need of each and everyone with equanimity.
4. To bring those who have strayed back onto the Mahayana path.
5. To bring those who have faith in him along to follow his discipline.
6. To cure every being suffering from physical difficulties or mental affliction.
7. To cure all those physically or mentally ill, and to provide friends, family and a home to those without and to guide them towards Complete Awakening.
8. To make that disadvantaged women can be reborn as free humans until Complete Awakening.
9. To protect beings from illusion, to show them the right view and the bodhisattva path towards Complete Awakening.
10. To save those who are in distress, imprisoned or sentenced to death.
11. To feed the hungry ones, give water to the thirsty ones.
12. To provide clothes to the naked or needy ones.

Translated from French by the Karmapa Translation Committee, Kundrol Ling, 29/04/2004. Original translation from the French in "Dharma - Compassion et medecine "; Ref. D.G. Diffusion : Autor Kollectiv; Editor/Label: Prajna; EAN: 9782905188601; Kalu Rinpoche

PS see here for the sutra http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/medbudsutra.pdf

[Aemilius]

Hi!
I dont know exactly to wich tradition belongs Medicine Buddha, so thats why i am posting in this subforum.

What i would like to ask is: do you see Medicine Buddha as a real being able to physically heal someone under certain circunstances (like, deep recitation of His name, long practice, etc)?

Other question is: can you recitate His name to heal other people?

Anyone here as ever see His powers healing someone (be it yourself or other people)?

Here are answers to your last two questions
http://www.fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/contact/pdf/Medicine_Buddha.pdf
it is a teaching by Lama Zopa

[Nosta]

nice link! thanks, it was very useful

[muni]

Tibetan Physicians who receive the Medicine Buddha initiation and do the practice; are able to act with completely altruistic love, compassion which is not a product of dualistic thoughts. The purity in acting by the empowerment of Medicine Buddha.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUJucA-m ... re=related Short one.

[muni]

One expression of Medicine Buddha knowledge. With deepest respect to doctor Tenzin Choedrak.
"A towering figure in Tibetan medicine is no longer with us. Dr. Tenzin Choedrak completed this lifetime on April 6th, 2001. His clear vision and subtle ability was an inspiration to everyone who worked with him or consulted him as a physician. Beyond even these medical capabilities, which were unsurpassed, his compassion and gentle nature reflected the highest levels of spiritual practice and discipline."


His example; a blessing for this world!

http://www.drgrotte.com/InMemoriamDr.shtml

[Yonten Nyima]

What i would like to ask is: do you see Medicine Buddha as a real being

Someone asked this of my teacher at a Medicine Buddha teaching and he answered yes, the Medicine Buddha was a real person who through his practice and vows became enlightened.

able to physically heal someone under certain circunstances (like, deep recitation of His name, long practice, etc)?

Again yes, his practice can be used to physically heal. There are a number of versions though and the preparations for the ritual are quite elaborate. His practice can range from a simple devotional type to full higher yoga tantra.

Other question is: can you recitate His name to heal other people?

Yes, but what do you mean by heal? If somebodies life force (which is based on karma) is finished then the healing may not have physical implications but mental implications (which ultimately are of greater importance). That is that they may die or not be healed of their disease but their mind will not be overcome by negative emtions like hatred, ignorance, fear of death etc... This will assist them greatly during the bardo of death and may help them gain a positive rebirth.

Anyone here as ever see His powers healing someone (be it yourself or other people)?

No, for me Sangye Menla is more an inspirational figure, both in my professional and personal life I try to apply the practices contained in his twelve great vows to guide my life and how I deal with people. These practices defintely have a healing effect!

THE TWELVE VOWS OF THE MEDICINE BUDDHA

Having considered the countless sufferings and illnesses of beings, the bodhisattva "Master of Remedies" (Bhaishajyaguru) developed a very great love and a very great desire for helping them all. He progressed on the spiritual path, formulated twelve great wishes and finally attained the state of Medicine Buddha.

1. To spread his light in innumerable worlds and to make others equal to him.
2. To illuminate all beings plunged into darkness.
3. To fulfil the need of each and everyone with equanimity.
4. To bring those who have strayed back onto the Mahayana path.
5. To bring those who have faith in him along to follow his discipline.
6. To cure every being suffering from physical difficulties or mental affliction.
7. To cure all those physically or mentally ill, and to provide friends, family and a home to those without and to guide them towards Complete Awakening.
8. To make that disadvantaged women can be reborn as free humans until Complete Awakening.
9. To protect beings from illusion, to show them the right view and the bodhisattva path towards Complete Awakening.
10. To save those who are in distress, imprisoned or sentenced to death.
11. To feed the hungry ones, give water to the thirsty ones.
12. To provide clothes to the naked or needy ones.

Translated from French by the Karmapa Translation Committee, Kundrol Ling, 29/04/2004. Original translation from the French in "Dharma - Compassion et medecine "; Ref. D.G. Diffusion : Autor Kollectiv; Editor/Label: Prajna; EAN: 9782905188601; Kalu Rinpoche

PS see here for the sutra http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/medbudsutra.pdf

Now this confuses me, I was under the assumption the Medicine Buddha of Lapis Light was named Sangye Menla, or is that another of the medicine buddhas?

[Aemilius]

Now this confuses me, I was under the assumption the Medicine Buddha of Lapis Light was named Sangye Menla, or is that another of the medicine buddhas?[/quote]

It is a tibetan form of the name Medicine Buddha.

[wisdomfire]

Hi!
I dont know exactly to wich tradition belongs Medicine Buddha, so thats why i am posting in this subforum.

What i would like to ask is: do you see Medicine Buddha as a real being able to physically heal someone under certain circunstances (like, deep recitation of His name, long practice, etc)?

Other question is: can you recitate His name to heal other people?

Anyone here as ever see His powers healing someone (be it yourself or other people)?

hi Nosta,
1. Medicine Buddha belongs to both Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.
2. Medicine Buddha is real. He has shown himself briefly to my friend before. But real in the sense of in the dream, things seem real. To one who is enlightened and woke out of the dream, it is not real. Ultimately all phenomenon is empty and does not exist from its own side, independently. This is Buddhist view.
3. You can recite his name, or mantra. I personally use mantra. There is a very good sadhana of Medicine Buddha under the Namcho tradition, you can find it in Trangu Rinpoche's book on teachings on Medicine Buddha with Tibetan and English translation and transliteration.
4. I have used it to heal my father when he was complaining of appendicitis kind of pain, heal others who are in pain post-operation, it has helped my own symptoms of illnesses. During periods when i can't afford to fall sick, i do the full sadhana fully everyday and visualise and it definitely works, i feel the effects quite fast. Medicine Buddha has other vows and thus other kind of beneficial effects. He restores your broken morality vows, he gives you success in your projects, he prevents you from falling into a lower realm rebirth and helps bring you to Amitabha's pureland... many benefits... you can read it in the above mentioned book. Also, another reference is Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Ultimate Healing.

Hope my comments help.

[wisdomfire]

some helpful links:
www.fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/contact/pdf/ ... Buddha.pdf

i found a place where you can read thrangu rinpoche's teachings on Medicine Buddha
http://www.shenpen-osel.org/issue9.pdf

i think i read that Anyen Rinpoche mentioned that his guru Tsari Dharmakirti Rinpoche cured himself of some fatal disease like cancer by doing Medicine Buddha practice and became a famous healer in Tibet.

There are many stories like such...

[Nosta]

I am starting to think that the more yougrow on buddhist practice (the more you became near Nibbana), the more you develop self healing powers, because the tissue of reality becomes more "easy" to manipulate.

[Ngawang Drolma]

What awesome answers to the OP

[Nosta]

I am backing to this topic, by asking if there are more people here doing Medicine Budha practices and how do you feel that such activity is affecting your life (for better i hope lol). I would like to hear specialy about how that affects you physically (for example, have you ever being cured/healed completly from a disease by recitating mantras?). The question is not new in this same topic, but i would love to read the experiences of other members here.

Also, i would like to add a new question: do you feel that recitating to Medicine Buddha is not compatible with Nenbutso? Which one should one follow? I mean, what if i follow Medicine Buddha path only when in the need of relief physical ailments that prevents me from having a good nembutsu practice?

Finally, a simples question, not important: is there a "name" for the Medicine Buddha? Honestly, the name "medicine" Buddha is a little strange lol. I would prefer to call him by a more realistic name.

Thanks

[Blue Garuda]

The name often used is : Bhaiṣajyaguru, more formally Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharāja (भैषज्यगुरुवैडूर्यप्रभाराज; "Medicine Master and King of Lapis Lazuli Light") (Wiki). This is the Sanskrit name.

Sangye Menla is the Tibetan name.

Wiki gives you the Dharani and Mantra.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaisajyaguru

In my own experience I have seen positive outcomes which I attribute to practice, but of course I can't prove that.

I also know that it is a practice I can't seem to perform successfully for my own health or those very close to me (I've tried). However, I have found Black Garuda and the Three Wrrathfuls (Vajrapani, Hayagriva, Garuda) seems to work in some cases.

Wiki uses the Sanskrit Dharani and Mantra which I also favour over the Tibetan, but I've no idea why. Maybe that's just a bit of karma ripening.

As an aside, MB is linked with 'vaidurya' commonly translated as 'lapis lazuli' but according to Robert Beer it is probably 'beryl' as vaidurya is mentioned in the scriptures in colours which cannot relate to lapis.

MB practice appears in sutra and tantra, so you may need a teacher's guidance in choosing the most appropriate ones.

Don't know about the Nembutsu relationship with Bhaisajyaguru practice, but there may be others who can help.

[Nosta]

Thank you for your nice answer.

Could you tell me what is the Black Garuda (is that another Buddha ou Boddhisatva?) and that Three Wrrathfuls pratice? And why do you think thats most beneficial some times?

At last, due to my english, i got confused: do you believe that MB practice is good for you or not?
I ask this because of what you said :
"In my own experience I have seen positive outcomes which I attribute to practice, but of course I can't prove that." [so it means that you benefit from practice]

"I also know that it is a practice I can't seem to perform successfully for my own health." [it means that the practice is not god, neither bad, for you]

Sorry for asking this lol, but i got confused with the opposite meaning of the 2 sentences.

[Blue Garuda]

Thank you for your nice answer.

Could you tell me what is the Black Garuda (is that another Buddha ou Boddhisatva?) and that Three Wrrathfuls pratice? And why do you think thats most beneficial some times?

At last, due to my english, i got confused: do you believe that MB practice is good for you or not?
I ask this because of what you said :
"In my own experience I have seen positive outcomes which I attribute to practice, but of course I can't prove that." [so it means that you benefit from practice]

"I also know that it is a practice I can't seem to perform successfully for my own health." [it means that the practice is not god, neither bad, for you]

Sorry for asking this lol, but i got confused with the opposite meaning of the 2 sentences.

No problem.

You have understood the two statements:

Yes, the practice seems effective when I am performing it to help others. So it is good for them.

No, it doesn't seem to work with healing myself or my close friends and relatives. No idea why!

If someone else performs Medicine Buddha practice to help me, it seems to work for me.

The other practices, Black Garuda and the Three Wrathfuls need a specific empowerment related to these deity practices from a tantric guru or a Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment from a tantric guru.

Vajrapani and Garuda practice seems to suit me very well, and I have a strong affinity with them. Hayagriva is also involved in one practice, but I feel no especially strong link with this deity.

maitri

Yeshe

[Pema Rigdzin]

Also, i would like to add a new question: do you feel that recitating to Medicine Buddha is not compatible with Nenbutso? Which one should one follow? I mean, what if i follow Medicine Buddha path only when in the need of relief physical ailments that prevents me from having a good nembutsu practice?

Mahayana Dharma has many tools in its toolkit to help us progress along the path to Buddhahood; Nembutsu and Medicine Buddha meditation are two such methods. It is perfectly fine to make Nembutsu your principal practice and to rely as needed on the Medicine Buddha practice and others. But you must take care not to fall in into the wrong view that one Buddha is somehow more or less important or enlightened than any other. Instead, the proper view would be that all Buddhas and Mahayana practices lead to Buddhahood, but that you simply have a particularly strong affinity for Amitabha and Nembutsu, so that is your chosen focus. Don't worry. Buddhas don't feel like we're "using them" if we usually practice one Buddha and only practice on another one to fulfill certain skillful means.

Hope this helps.