Bhaishajyaraja
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Bhaiṣajyarāja (Skt: भैषज्यराज; Traditional Chinese: 藥王; Simplified Chinese: 药王; pinyin: yào wáng; Japanese: 薬王 Yakuō), or Medicine King, is one of the provisional bodhisattvas mentioned within the Lotus Sutra who vows to expound the Lotus Sutra after the passing of Shakyamuni Buddha. He is said to have been reborn over a period of numerous lifetimes healing and curing diseases, and is a representation of the healing power of the Buddha.
In times of pain, sickness, or stress, my first thought of “remedy” is quiet meditation with the most sacred Medicine Buddha mantra. Inevitably, arthritis pains subsides in my case, and I’ve avoided most of the colds and flus that go around my business meetings— knock on wood. I give Medicine Buddha, exercise and good nutrition the credit. Chronic, advanced arthritis is mostly kept in check with Medicine Buddha practice — and some occasional check-ins with the doctor.
Nor am I alone. Tibetan doctors rely on Medicine Buddha for their healings. Regular practice with the Medicine Buddha also empowers one with powers to heal others. In China and Japan, Medicine Buddha is a refuge in times of illness. Around the world, literally millions call out the name or mantra of Bhaisajyaguru. It is even written in the sutras that if you speak the name of the Medicine Buddha in the ears of a dying animal or human they will be ensured good rebirth regardless of their past karma. No wonder the Medicine Buddha is so popular.
My first choice for medicine — short of obvious medical conditions requiring doctor interventions — is a peaceful meditation on my visualization of Bhaishajyaguru—or just Bhaishajya—the Medicine Buddha, and a few malas round of the very powerful mantra (spelling is phonetic):
TADYATHA AUM BHAISHAJYE BHAISHAJYE MAHA BHAISHAJYE BHAISHAJYE SAMUDGATE SVAHA
This is the sanskrit version (where Om is really Aum) of one version of the Medicine Buddha mantra as taught to me by my teacher. As found in the original sutra, the Bhaiṣajyaguruvaiḍūryaprabhārāja Sūtra (भैषज्यगुरुवैडूर्यप्रभाराज सूत्र) this is most often given as:
TADYATHA AUM BHAISHAJYE BHAISHAJYE MAHA BHAISHAJYA SAMUDGATE SVAHA
I chant in Sanskrit, as found in the sutra, even though I was taught the Tibetan pronunciation by my root guru — and either is effective in my experience. I prefer Sanskrit by virtue of lineage to Shakyamuni Buddha via Sutra and by virtue of centuries of unbroken lineage from Tibetan teachers reaching back to Buddha.The Tibetan pronunciation is equally empowered:
Tayata Om Bhekandze Bekhandze Maha Bhekandze Bhekandze Randza Sumungate Soha
