SPIRITUALITY













Medicine Buddha, thangka painting

Medicine Buddha Practice

The Buddha of healing and medicine in Mahayana Buddhism is commonly referred to as the "Medicine Buddha". His original Sanskrit name and title Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍurya-prabha-raja means 'King of Medicine Master and Lapis Lazuli Light'.

He is first described in the Medicine Buddha Sutra, as an Bodhisattva who made 12 great vows. On achieving buddhahood, he became the Buddha of the eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli.

In Sowa Rigpa he is named 'Sangye Menla' and considered as a doctor who cures both physical disease and mental suffering using the medicine of his teachings.

The spiritual practice of the Medicine Buddha is therefore closely related to Tibetan Medicine and to the tradition of mantra healing.

A meditation instruction with Menla and Four Dakinis was a terma given by Guru Rinpoche, and later discovered and mentioned by the Yogi Ju Mipam Rinpoche (1846 - 1912) in his mantra healing text. It is a direct way to be purified from the root of diseases afflicting body, energy and mind and to also permanently prevent disorders. It is done both for healing oneself and for healing others. It can therefore be practiced not only by physicians but by anyone for healing.

Vajra Anatomy

The study about the subtle structures is the foundation for any Vajrayana tradition. Especially starting from the Dzogrim practices the spiritual development depends profoundly on the knowledge and experiences of the channels and chakras, rlung energy, and thigle.

Teachings about the Vajra anatomy are traditionally kept in secrecy. They are revealed only in the context of devotional practice and advanced spiritual progress in unbroken tantric lineages.

Depiction of Yogi with meditation channels and chakras