What are the benefits of Medicine Buddha (藥師佛 / Bhaiṣajyaguru)? What can be requested at a Medicine Buddha Dharma Assembly? From dispelling calamity and extending life, to blessing for physical and mental illness, to transference for the departed—this article introduces the Medicine Buddha of the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli, explains the benefits of the Medicine Buddha Dharma Assembly, and shows how to pray for yourself and family at Fahsilin.
Who Is Medicine Buddha
Medicine Buddha, full name Bhaiṣajyaguru Vaiḍūryaprabha Tathāgata (藥師琉璃光如來), is the teaching master of the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli.
His root aspiration is to "dispel calamity, extend life, and remove suffering while bestowing joy," saving beings from suffering, illness, and danger.
Practicing the Medicine Buddha dharma gates can bring health, dispel misfortune, and ensure rebirth in a good realm.
Medicine Buddha's Twelve Great Vows
First Vow: My own radiance will illuminate the boundless, so that all beings become no different from me.
Second Vow: May my body be like lapis lazuli, inside and out clear and bright, with vast light.
Third Vow: Wisdom and skillful means, so that all sentient beings receive inexhaustible benefit.
Fourth Vow: May those on wrong paths all enter right view, the Mahāyāna right path.
Fifth Vow: May all beings keep pure precepts without transgression.
Sixth Vow: May those with impaired faculties become complete, free of illness and suffering.
Seventh Vow: May the poor and those without medicine have all their diseases removed, with body and mind at ease.
Eighth Vow: May those born as women, if they wish, be reborn as men.
Ninth Vow: May all beings with wrong views return to right view and practice all virtues.
Tenth Vow: May those bound by law, flogged, or chained be freed from suffering.
Eleventh Vow: May the hungry and thirsty obtain food and drink in abundance, with body and mind delighted.
Twelfth Vow: May the poor without clothing obtain fine garments, unaffected by cold or heat.
Benefits of Medicine Buddha
**Dispel Calamity, Extend Life**: Dissolve sudden misfortunes, accidents, and tribulations; pray for well-being and longevity.
**Blessing for Illness**: For chronic illness or hard-to-cure conditions, provides blessing and spiritual support (not a replacement for medical treatment).
**Transference for the Departed**: Pray for departed loved ones to be reborn in the Pure Land and freed from suffering.
**Dissolving Karmic Obscurations**: Practicing the Medicine Buddha dharma purifies karma and removes adverse conditions.
**Peace of Mind**: Provides spiritual support for those with depression, anxiety, or unsettled emotions.
Fahsilin's Medicine Buddha Dharma Assembly
Rinpoche Urgyen Topden holds Medicine Buddha Dharma Assemblies in Zhubei, Hsinchu, with both online and in-person registration.
**For the living**: Register name and prayer intention—for health, safety, and karma purification.
**For the departed**: You may register departed family members for transference, so the departed may be freed from suffering.
The Master observes each registrant's physical and mental condition and offers guidance.
Teaching: Bodily Suffering vs Mental Suffering
Rinpoche Urgyen Topden has taught in "Master's Heart-to-Heart":
"Bodily suffering can still be treated by seeking medicine; mental suffering is hardest to cure—only prajñā wisdom, seeing through attachments and letting go, can heal the illness of mind." (From "Bodily suffering is easy to treat; mental suffering is hardest to cure")
The Medicine Buddha Dharma Assembly is not only for bodily illness but also provides refuge for the suffering of the heart.
FAQ
What can I pray for at a Medicine Buddha Dharma Assembly?
Dispelling calamity, extending life, physical and mental health, blessing for illness, transference for the departed, dissolving karmic obscurations, and peace of mind—all may be prayed for.
Can a Medicine Buddha Dharma Assembly cure illness?
It is a religious spiritual prayer, not medical treatment. If you are ill, you must still seek medical care; practicing the Medicine Buddha dharma gives spiritual support and blessing for recovery.
Can I register departed family members for a Medicine Buddha Dharma Assembly?
Yes. Pray for the departed to be reborn in a good realm, freed from suffering, and to resolve karmic bonds with karmic creditors.
When is the best time to practice the Medicine Buddha dharma?
The 30th day of the 9th lunar month (Medicine Buddha's holy birthday) is particularly auspicious. You may also practice regularly, during illness, when family members are sick, or on the anniversary of a departed loved one.
How do I register for a Medicine Buddha Dharma Assembly?
Register online via Fahsilin's official LINE—submit name and prayer intention. No need to attend in person; overseas devotees are welcome.
Further Reading