Sadhana of Medicine Guru Buddha
Reverently compiled by
Dr. Yutang Lin
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Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light
Causal Origin for Distribution of the Holy Image of Healing Buddha
written in Chinese by Zeng Zuokang
translated by Stanley Lam
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Miraculous Inspiration of Consecration
by Zeng Zuokang, a retired teacher in Taiwan
September 9, 1996
This image of the Healing Buddha (or Medicine Buddha) was obtained from a furniture auction store seven years ago. Because of its visual attractiveness, the image was originally intended only to be an ornament in the living room.
In mid 1992, when Dr. Yutang Lin visited my home during his trip back to Taiwan, he saw this image and offered to consecrate it. In early morning of the third day after the consecration, around five to six o'clock, while I was still in bed, this image of the Healing Buddha appeared with a gigantic golden body and his hand hit heavily on top of my head. Consequently, my body was very hot the whole day; particularly, my tongue felt like it had been burned. However, the whole feeling was actually very comfortable, and I had no need to use the toilet for the whole day.
That night I phoned Dr. Lin in the U.S. and asked about this phenomenon. Dr. Lin said that it was because the consecration had invited the arrival of the Buddha, hence it was a blessed event and should be a good sign. From then on, I set up an altar at home, and every morning and evening I burn an offering of incense, do prostrations, and chant Buddha names and the Diamond Sutra.
Dr. Lin also suggested that I distribute this image to the public. So I started to take photos of the image for distribution among friends and relatives.
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Miraculous Appearance at the Top of a Tent
by Lin Xiaomei, a teacher at Cao Tun public secondary school, Nantou County, Taiwan
On July 13, 1996, the Zhongxing Reading Society organized a stargazing trip to Hehuan Mountain. It was very hot when the trip started at the foothills, but, after passing Wushe, it started to get foggy and cold. There was a little rain when we arrived at our destination, but everyone still pulled up the tent in high spirits.
Dusk arrived quite early in the mountains. We then had supper and chatted together. While chatting, the rain and wind were getting heavier and stronger. Having nowhere else to go, we could only get back into the tent. Nonetheless, the rain and wind grew so strong that the tempest was roaring fiercely over the valley. It seemed that the light tent we were in would be pulled away anytime.
In such a horrible situation, I just kept chanting NAMO GUANSHIYIN PUSA (Refuge in Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara). Half an hour later, the Healing Buddha image that my brother-in-law, Mr. Zeng Zuokang, gave me, suddenly appeared at the top of the tent. The image was extraordinarily bright in the darkness, and it lasted for about one minute. By that time I was much relieved and gradually fell asleep.
Around eleven o'clock at night, the rain started to get lighter; the sky was cleared by around three o'clock in the morning. Therefore, many of us went out to watch the stars and then the sunrise. It was indeed an unforgettable night.
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Printing for Free Distribution to the Public
After these two miraculous incidents, I decided to have one thousand color copies of this holy image printed for free distribution to the public. Dr. Lin also asked me to send out positive films of the image to many places in the U.S., Malaysia and Taiwan so that believers everywhere can print it for free distribution. May all who obtain this holy image worship it with reverence and thereby receive its blessings.
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Contact for Free Copies
Dr. Yutang Lin
705 Midcrest Way
El Cerrito, CA 94530-3310
U.S.A.
Sadhana of Medicine Guru Buddha
Reverently compiled by Dr. Yutang Lin
Table of Contents |
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| I. Refuge | II. Bodhicitta |
III. Visualization |
IV. Offerings |
V. Prostration |
VI. Praise |
VII. Recitation |
VIII. Chanting |
IX. Dedication |
X. Application |
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I. Refuge
Repeat three times:
I take refuge in Medicine Guru Buddha.
I take refuge in Medicine Guru Dharma.
I take refuge in Medicine Guru Sangha.
II. Bodhicitta
May all sentient beings possess completely happiness and causes of happiness!
May all sentient beings be forever free from suffering and causes of suffering!
May all sentient beings never separate from joy of Medicine Guru Dharmas!
May all sentient beings soon attain the fruit of Medicine Guru Buddhahood!
III. Visualization
A. Blank Essence
Repeat three times: (Mantra written in Pin Yin.)
Weng, Su Ba Wa Xiu Da, Sha Wa Da Ma, Su Ba Wa Xiu Duo, Hang.
Visualize that all beings and things merge into Blank Essence. The whole Dharmadhatu becomes cloudless blue space.
B. Dharmadhatu
From blue space of Blank Essence suddenly emerges Pure Lapis Lazuli World; it encompasses the whole Dharmadhatu. The seven Medicine Guru Buddhas preside in the space above in front of the practitioner. At their center is Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, with two great Bodhisattvas, Sunlight Everywhere and Moonlight Everywhere, standing on his right and left sides in attendance. The remaining six Buddhas are at the six hexagonal points. The seven Buddhas are surrounded by immeasurable entourage. Twelve Yaksa Great Generals lead eighty-four thousand yaksas to guard on all four sides and in the space above and below. The practitioner visualizes that, to his right is father and his left mother, in front relatives, friends and karmic creditors, and behind all beings in the six realms (following in the order of hell beings, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, asuras, and heavenly beings), and that all are facing the holy beings. All practices conducted below should be visualized as being performed by all beings simultaneously, and that all holy beings are pleased by the activities so that they all emit lights and sprinkle nectars to bestow blessings.
IV. Offerings
Before starting to practice this ritual one should have lighted candles, burned incense, offered clean water, fresh flowers, fresh fruits, etc. At this juncture one recites the stanza given below, and simultaneously visualizes that all the superb items of offering and means of sustenance in the whole Dharmadhatu are boundlessly offered to each and every one of the holy beings. Furthermore, the holy beings are all very pleased with enjoying the offerings, and they return favors by emitting lights and sprinkling nectars on all sentient beings to bestow blessings.
Display wondrous means of sustenance,
Set up five-color banners and flags;
In front of each one of the seven Buddhas
Seven lamps, as large as wheels, are lighted.Scatter fragrant flowers, burn fine incenses,
Play drums, make music, sing in praises;
With compassion, mercy, joy and renunciation
To benefit equally each and every sentient being.Recite the Sutra, maintain the mantra,
Circumambulate clockwise the image of Buddha;
Twelve great vows of Tathagata Medicine Guru
Constantly remembered in one’s heart.Observe austerity and act according to silas,
Make offerings to members of Sangha;
Twelve Yaksa Great Generals
Will constantly accompany such practitioners.
V. Prostration
The practitioner may choose to adopt one of the two practices listed below as the regular one, or to practice them alternately from session to session.
A. Prostration to the Seven Medicine Guru Buddhas
Repeat the epithet and make one prostration; once or thrice for each one listed below.
Salute Tathagata Good Fame Auspicious King
Salute Tathagata Gem Moon Wisdom-adorned At-ease-with-light-and-sound King
Salute Tathagata Golden Gem Light Wondrous-activities-accomplished
Salute Tathagata Carefree Most Supreme Auspicious
Salute Tathagata Dharma Ocean Thundering Sounds
Salute Tathagata Dharma Ocean Supreme Wisdom Playing-with-supernatural-powers
Salute Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light
Salute Bodhisattva Sunlight Everywhere
Salute Bodhisattva Moonlight Everywhere
Salute Twelve Yaksa Great GeneralsB. Prostration to the Medicine Guru Buddha
Regarding Medicine Guru Buddha as representing and embodying all seven Medicine Guru Buddhas, make prostration to him seven times. Make one prostration to each of the remaining holy ones. Each prostration is accompanied by repetition of the corresponding epithets listed below. The names of the Yaksa generals are written in Pin Yin.
Salute Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light
Salute Bodhisattva Sunlight Everywhere
Salute Bodhisattva Moonlight Everywhere
Salute Great General Gong Pi Luo
Salute Great General Fa Zhe Luo
Salute Great General Mi Qi Luo
Salute Great General An Di Luo
Salute Great General E Ni Luo
Salute Great General Shan Di Luo
Salute Great General Yin Da Luo
Salute Great General Bo Yi Luo
Salute Great General Mo Hu Luo
Salute Great General Zhen Da Luo
Salute Great General Zhao Du Luo
Salute Great General Pi Jie Luo
VI. Praise
Namo Medicine Guru Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Light
Great vows twelve in number, guarding and guiding all beings;
Mishaps and misfortunes fade away upon hearing thy holy name.Pure body of lapis lazuli light, brightening the whole Dharmadhatu;
Worshipping it with offerings in reverence yields freedom from fear.Great mantra of secret power, pacifying and eradicating all suffering;
Repeating it devoutly and constantly brings peace and harmony.Guarding generals twelve in number, protecting the pure and faithful ones;
Offering lamps and reciting the sutra will prolong life of wisdom.
VII. Recitation
The practitioner may choose to recite respectfully either the whole sutra or the twelve original great vows. To facilitate the practice session both are provided below.
A. Recite the Whole Sutra
Sutra on the Merits and Original Vows of
Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light
In abbreviation, also known as
Sutra of Medicine Guru Buddha
Under Imperial Order of Tang Dynasty
Translated into Chinese by
Tripitaka Dharma Master Xuan Zang
Translated from Chinese into English
By
Dr. Yutang Lin
Thus I heard: once Bhagavan roamed through countries to give teachings and came to stay beneath the tree Musical Sounds in the city of Extensive Grandeur. He was accompanied by eight thousand great Bhiksus. Thirty-six thousand great Bodhisattvas, together with kings, high officials, Brahmans, householders, heavenly beings, dragons, yaksas, humans, non-humans, etc., formed an immeasurable assembly that respectfully surrounded Buddha to listen to his preaching of Dharma.
At that time Dharma Prince Manjusri through the awesome power of Buddha rose up from his seat, exposed his right shoulder as a gesture of respect, and knelt on his right knee. Toward Bhagavan he bowed with folded palms and said, "World Honored One, wish that you would expound the names and epithets of various kinds of Buddhas and their original vows and extraordinary merits so that beings upon hearing them would be free from karmic hindrances. The intention is to benefit sentient beings at the later time when only semblance of Dharma will be available."
Then World Honored One praised Boy Manjusri by saying: "Good! Good! Manjusri, out of compassion you pleaded me to expound the names, epithets, original vows and merits of various Buddhas in order to rescue sentient beings entangled by karmic hindrances and to benefit sentient beings at the period of the spreading of semblance of Dharma with peace and happiness. Now you should listen attentively and ponder extremely well, and I would explain them to you." Manjusri said, "Yes, please tell us. We would rejoice to hear about them."
Buddha told Manjusri: "In the East passing Buddha lands as numerous as the number of sands in ten Ganges rivers there is a world named ‘Pure Lapis Lazuli.’ The Buddha there has the epithets: Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, Arhat, Rightly and Fully Enlightened One, Omniscient Wisdom One, Well-gone One, Knower of Worlds, Unsurpassable One, Cultivator of Men, Teacher of Heavenly Beings and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavan. Manjusri, that World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, when he originally was practicing the Bodhisattva path, developed twelve great vows so that all sentient beings would obtain whatever they wished for.
The first great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may my body be glowingly bright to shine upon immeasurable countless boundless worlds, and be adorned with the thirty-two marks of a great man and the eighty ensuing refined features. I shall render all beings to resemble me without differences.
The second great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may my body be like Lapis Lazuli, transparent throughout and pure without blemish, with extensive brightness and majestic merits, well at ease, and adorned with aureole brighter than sun and moon. Sentient beings in hell would all be taught the right path. I would engage in all kinds of salvation activities as my intention moves along.
The third great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may I employ countless boundless skillful means of wisdom to render all beings in possession of inexhaustible things of comfort but not to let sentient beings in want of anything.
The fourth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may I settle well all those who practice the heterodox ways onto the Bodhi path, and establish securely those who practice Sravakayana or Pratyeka-Buddha-yana in Mahayana.
The fifth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may the countless boundless sentient beings who would cultivate pure conducts in accordance with my teachings all attain no breach of silas and fulfill the three cumulative silas. If they fail to comply or violate silas, upon hearing my name, they would regain purity and not fall into bad realms.
The sixth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may those sentient beings who are physically inferior with incomplete senses, and are suffering from being ugly, retarded, blind, deaf, mute, victim of convulsion, crippled, humpbacked, leprous, lunatic, or sick with various diseases, upon hearing my name, all attain proper features, become smart, with all senses wholesome, and without any illness.
The seventh great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may those sentient beings who are tormented by diseases but with neither help nor refuge, neither medical treatment nor medication, neither relatives nor family, yet in poverty with much hardship, upon hearing my name, all become free from diseases, attain peace and joy of body and mind, have abundance of family and possessions, and even up to all attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment.
The eighth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may those women who are tormented by hundreds of sufferings of the female sex, and are extremely weary to the extent of wishing to give up their female bodies, upon hearing my name, all transform into men with proper male features, and even up to all attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment.
The ninth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may I render all sentient beings escape the nets of evils, and become free from entanglements of heterodox ways. If they are trapped in all sorts of dense forest of perversive views, I will induce and introduce them to right views, gradually lead them to practice the Bodhisattva ways, and help them soon attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment.
The tenth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may those sentient beings who are condemned by royal laws to be bound by ropes, lashed by whips, enchained in prisons, or executed, and are tormented by numerous other disasters and insults so that they are afflicted by sorrow and anguish, and are suffering in both body and mind, upon hearing my name, through the majestic supernatural power of my merits and virtue, all become free from all sorrows and sufferings.
The eleventh great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may those sentient beings who are tormented by hunger and thirst, and, in order to obtain food, have committed all sorts of evil karma, will have the opportunity to hear my name and will then continue to repeat my name whole-heartedly. Then I shall first satisfy their physical needs with most wondrous foods and drinks, and afterwards provide them with the flavors of Dharma so as to establish them in ultimate peace and joy.
The twelfth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may those sentient beings who are poor without clothing, tormented day and night by mosquitoes, wasps, cold and heat, upon hearing my name will continue to repeat it whole-heartedly, and then they will obtain all sorts of most wondrous clothing just as they prefer them to be. They will also obtain all kinds of jewel ornaments, floral garlands, perfumes, drums and music, dancers, whatever their hearts desire will all be satisfied.
Manjusri, these are the twelve wondrous supreme vows pledged by that World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, Rightly and Fully Enlightened One, in the course of practicing the Bodhisattva path."
"Furthermore, Manjusri, all the great vows as pledged by that World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, while he was practicing the Bodhisattva path, and all the meritorious grandeur of his Buddha land could not be exhausted if I continued to enumerate them for the duration of one kalpa or over one kalpa. However, his Buddha land remains pure, without women. There are no bad realms, nor sounds of suffering. Its ground is made of lapis lazuli, with gold ropes marking the roads. Its cities, palaces, windows and ornamental nets are all made of seven kinds of jewels. It is similar to the Utmost Joy World in the west, with equal meritorious grandeur such that they are indistinguishable. In his country there are two great Bodhisattvas: one is named ‘Sunlight Everywhere’; the other is named ‘Moonlight Everywhere’. They are leaders of the assembly of immeasurable innumerable Bodhisattvas there, next in line to attaining Buddhahood, and completely capable of upholding the treasure of correct teachings of that World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light. Therefore, Manjusri, all good men and good women with faith should aspire to be born in the world of that Buddha."
Then World Honored One again told Boy Manjusri, "Manjusri, some sentient beings are incapable of distinguishing good from bad. They maintain only greed and miserliness, without knowing almsgiving and the consequences thereof. They are ignorant, without wisdom and lack of root of faith. They accumulate much wealth and treasures, and diligently guard those possessions. When they see beggars coming, displeasure arises in their hearts. If they were obliged to make a donation, then they would feel deep pain of reluctance as if their flesh were being ripped off. In addition, there are immeasurable stingy and greedy sentient beings that are accumulating resources and wealth, but they would not partake of those even for themselves, not to mention for their fathers, mothers, wives, children, servants, workers or visiting beggars. All such sentient beings, upon end of their lives in this world, would be born in the realm of hungry ghosts or animals. Had they had the opportunity during their human lives to have briefly heard the name of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, then by this cause they would briefly recall the name of that Tathagata while they are now in the bad realms. Right at the moment of such a thought they would pass away from that realm and gain rebirth among humans. They would then remember their past lives, become afraid of suffering in bad realms, and no longer enjoy sensuous pleasures. They would like to practice almsgiving and praise other almsgivers. They are neither greedy over nor attached to any of their possessions. Gradually they would become able to give their heads, eyes, hands, feet, blood, flesh and bodily parts to those that come to ask for them, not to mention the rest of wealth and properties."
"Furthermore, Manjusri, if some sentient beings even though had received from Tathagata teachings on what to practice and yet still broke silas. Some even though have not broken silas but broke established rules. Some even though have not broken silas or established rules and yet damaged right views. Some even though have not damaged right views but gave up learning more teachings; consequently they could not comprehend the profound significance of Sutras as spoken by the Buddha. Some even though have learned many teachings but sustain unsubstantiated pride of superiority. Since their minds are covered by unsubstantiated pride of superiority, they are self-righteous, critical of others, suspicious or slanderous of right Dharma, and become companions to devils. Foolish people like these are practicing devious views themselves, and in addition causing immeasurable billions of sentient beings to fall into pits of great dangers. These sentient beings should be transmigrating endlessly in realms of hells, animals and ghosts. If they had the opportunity to hear the name of this Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, then they would renounce wicked activities, cultivate good practices, and not fall into bad realms. If some fell into bad realms because they were incapable of renouncing wicked activities and cultivating good practices, by the awesome power of that Tathagata’s original vows they would have the opportunity to hear briefly that Tathagata’s epithets. Then they would end their lives there and be reborn as humans. They would obtain right views, be diligent and good at tuning their intention and inclination. Thus they would be able to renounce family life and lean toward non-family life. They would receive and uphold practices according to teachings of Tathagata without incurring damage or violation. They would have right views, learn many teachings, understand very profound significance of teachings, abstain from unsubstantiated pride of superiority, not disparage right teachings, and not become companions of devils. They would gradually cultivate all Bodhisattva practices and soon attain fulfillment."
"Furthermore, Manjusri, if some sentient beings were stingy, greedy, envious, self-praising and disparaging others, then they should fall into three bad realms to experience all sorts of tremendous sufferings for immeasurable thousands of years. Having gone through tremendous sufferings they would end their lives there and be reborn as cows, horses, camels, donkeys in human society, and constantly be tormented by whipping, beating, hunger and thirst. Furthermore, they would often carry heavy loads to walk along roads. Or they might be reborn as humans but live at the bottom of the society, working as servants to others, being ordered around to labor, constantly without ease. If in their past lives as humans they had heard the epithets of World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, then by this good cause now they would recall again the epithets and wholeheartedly take refuge in him. Then by the supernatural power of Buddha they would be relieved from all sufferings. Their senses would be sharp and sensitive. They would be wise and would learn many teachings. They would constantly seek superior teachings, often encounter good friends, and forever sever connection with devils. They would break the shell of ignorance, dry up the river of sorrows, and become liberated from all worries and sorrows that are associated with birth, senility, sickness and death."
"Furthermore, Manjusri, if some sentient beings were inclined to devious antagonism, and furthermore engaged in fighting or lawsuits that bring sorrows and confusion to themselves and others. They committed, accumulated and cultivated all sorts of bad karmas by their physical, verbal and mental activities. Turn about they would constantly do unbeneficial matters to plot havoc against one another. They would call upon gods of mountains, forests, trees or tombs, and kill all kinds of sentient beings to get their blood and flesh for making offerings to yaksas, raksasas, and the like. They would make a statue of their enemy and write the enemy’s name on it, and then curse it with evil charms. They would employ sorcery, toxin substances, or call forth ghosts from corpses by magic spells so as to cut short their enemy’s life and damage their enemy’s body. These sentient beings, if they had the opportunity to hear the epithets of this Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, would be free from harms incurred by all those evil practices. At every turn merciful mind would arise in all of them. They would intend to benefit and bring peace and happiness to others, with neither harmful intentions nor feelings of discontent. Each and every one would rejoice and take delight in being content with what they receive in life. They would not afflict one another but instead would benefit one another."
"Furthermore, Manjusri, if there were members of the four assemblies of Bhiksus, Bhiksunis, Upasakas and Upasikas, and other good men and good women with pure faith, who could receive and maintain the eight-branch rules of fasting and austerity for the duration of one year or one year and three months, and engage in observance of practices as taught by Buddha. With this root of goodness they would aspire to be born in the western Utmost Joy World of Immeasurable Longevity Buddha in order to listen to right teachings there and yet the outcome were still pending. If they heard the epithet of World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, then at the end of their lives there would be eight great Bodhisattvas who would come by supernatural powers to indicate the path to them. The eight great Bodhisattvas are called, Bodhisattva Manjusri, Bodhisattva Observing Worldly Sounds, Bodhisattva Great Influence Achieved, Bodhisattva Inexhaustible Intent, Bodhisattva Precious Sandalwood Flower, Bodhisattva Medicine King, Bodhisattva Medicine Supreme, and Bodhisattva Maitreya. Then they would naturally and miraculously be born in that world inside all sorts of flowers made of variegated jewels of all kinds. Some would thereby be born in some heaven. Even though they gained rebirth in some heaven that would not have exhausted their original root of goodness, and they would never be born in the bad realms again. When their longevities in heaven were exhausted they would be reborn as humans. Some would become wheel-turning kings in charge of four continents, at ease with awe-inspiring character and virtues, and settle immeasurable hundreds of thousands of sentient beings on the path of cultivation of ten virtues. Or be born in important families of Ksatriya or Brahman householders, with abundance of wealth and treasures, and full or overflowing warehouses, possessing proper figure and features, with complete family members, sharp and wise, brave and healthy, vigorous and powerful as a mighty man. In case of women, if they had heard the epithet of World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, and maintained it with all their hearts, then later they would never receive a female body."
"Furthermore, Manjusri, when that Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light attained Bodhi, through the power of his original vows he observed that sentient beings were suffering from all kinds of diseases such as weight-loss, convulsion, dryness, shrinking, jaundice, and fever, or were tormented by sorcery or toxin substances, or had their lives cut short, or sometimes encountered tragic and unexpected deaths. He wanted to render all such diseases and sufferings extinct, and all wishes beseeched be fulfilled. Then that World Honored One entered the Samadhi called ‘Eradicating Suffering and Sorrow of all Sentient Beings.’ After he had entered the Samadhi, great brightness issued forth from Usnisa at the top of his head, and in this brightness he pronounced the great Dharani by saying:
Na Mo Bo Qie Fa Di, Bei Sha She Ju Lu, Bi Liu Li, Bo La Po, He Luo She Ye, Da Tuo Jie Duo Ye, A Luo He Di, San Miao San Bo Tuo Ye, Da Zhi Ta, An, Bei Sha Shi, Bei Sha Shi, Bei Sha She, San Mo Jie Di, Suo He.
(Translator's note: The Dharani is written in Pin Yin.)
When the mantra was thus spoken in the light the earth trembled and emitted huge brightness. All sentient beings were rid of sicknesses and sufferings, and attained happiness of peace and stability. Manjusri, if one encountered men or women with sickness, one should wholeheartedly clean, rinse and bath those patients regularly, and provide them with food, medicine or insect-free water that have been blessed with one hundred and eight repetitions of this mantra. All their sicknesses and sufferings would then be extinguished. If one sustained some wishes and wholeheartedly repeated this mantra, then all wishes would come true. One would be free from sicknesses and live longer, and after one’s life has ended one would be reborn in his world, attain no-regress on the path until achieving Bodhi. Therefore, Manjusri, if there were men or women that wholeheartedly and solemnly paid respect and made offerings to that Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, they should constantly recite this mantra so that they would not give it up or forget about it."
"Furthermore, Manjusri, if there were men or women with pure faith that had the opportunity to have heard all epithets of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, Arhat, Rightly and Fully Enlightened One. And then maintained them by recitations. In the morning they chewed tooth-wood, rinsed and bathed to clean themselves, and offered fragrant flowers, burning incenses, perfumes, all kinds of dances and music to images and statues of this Buddha. As to this sutra, they either copied it by themselves or ordered others to do so; they sustained it wholeheartedly and listened to teachings on its significance. As regards Dharma teachers who provided such explanations they should practice making offerings to sustain them; all things related to their sustenance should be offered as gifts to them so as not to let them be in want or scarcity of something. Thus they would be protected and cared for by all Buddhas, and the wishes they sought after would be fulfilled, even up to their attainment of Bodhi."
Then Boy Manjusri told Buddha, "World Honored One, I should vow that during the period of the spreading of semblance of Dharma I will use all sorts of skillful means so that good men and good women with pure faith will hear the epithet of World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, even to enlighten their ears by this Buddha’s name during their sleep. World Honored One, if one sustained this sutra through recitation and reading, or furthermore expounded its significance and revealed its essence to others, if one copied it by oneself or ordered others to copy it, and respectfully and reverently made offerings of all sorts of floral fragrance, perfumes, powdered incenses, burning incenses, floral garlands, jeweled necklaces, banners, canopies, dances and music to it, and if one made a bag of five-color silk to contain it, and swept and sprinkled to clean up a spot, then set up a high throne there for the sutra to be well placed, then the Four Great Heavenly Kings together with their retinues and the remaining immeasurable hundreds of thousands of heavenly beings would all arrive there to make offerings to it and to guard it. World Honored One, if where this treasure of sutra were in circulation there were people that could receive and sustain it, then by the merits and the original vows of that World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, and hearing of his epithets, one should know that there would be no more tragic and accidental deaths, nor would people there be robbed of their essential air anymore by evil ghosts or deities. If some had been robbed of their essential air, they would recover from such losses and retain peace and enjoyment of both body and mind."
Buddha told Manjusri, "Thus is the case; thus is the case. It is just as you said. Manjusri, if there were good men or good women with pure faith that would like to make offerings to that World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, they should first of all have that Buddha’s image or statue made, and set up a clean throne to secure it there. Scatter all sorts of flowers around it, and burn all kinds of incenses. Adorn its seat with all kinds of banners and flags. Receive and maintain the eight-branch rules of fasting and austerity for the duration of seven days and seven nights. Eat pure foods, bath to become clean and fragrant, and wear clean new clothing. Should develop stainless, angerless and harmless mind. To all sentient beings let arise the mind of benefiting, peace and happiness, mercy, compassion, joy, renunciation and equality. Play drums and music, and sing praises while circumambulating clockwise around the image of Buddha. Furthermore, one should recall the merits and original vows of that Tathagata, read and recite this sutra, ponder on its significance, and expound it to people so as to reveal its essence. Then whatever one would like to attain will all be realized. Wishing for longevity will longevity attain; wishing for wealth and abundance will wealth and abundance attain; wishing for official positions will official positions attain; wishing for son or daughter will son or daughter obtain. If there were someone that suddenly got bad dreams, saw various bad signs, or noticed strange birds came to gather around, or had all kinds of strange phenomena occurred at his residence. If this person respectfully offered all kinds of wondrous items of sustenance to that World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, then bad dreams, bad signs and all unauspicious phenomena would disappear and could not cause any harm. Or if there were fright of water, fire, knife, poison, impending danger, violent elephant, lion, tiger, wolf, bear, brown bear, venomous snake, venomous scorpion, centipede, millipede, mosquito, horse fly, etc., and if one could wholeheartedly recall that Buddha and respectfully make offerings, then all fears would be relieved. If foreign country invaded or robbers and thieves revolted, those who recalled and showed respect to that Tathagata would all be relieved of such dangers."
"Furthermore, Manjusri, if there were good men or good women with pure faith, they should, for the rest of their lives, attend to no other deities, but wholeheartedly take refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, and observe the silas of abstention. If among the five silas, ten silas, four hundred silas of Bodhisattvas, two hundred fifty silas of Bhiksus, or five hundred silas of Bhiksunis that one had received some were violated and one were in fear of falling into bad realms. Then those who could repeat solely that Buddha’s epithets and respectfully make offerings would definitely not be born in the three bad realms. Or if some women were experiencing tremendous suffering during pregnancy or childbirth, and they could wholeheartedly repeat the name of that Tathagata, salute, praise, and respectfully make offerings to him, then all sufferings would be relieved. Children thus born would possess complete faculties, proper shapes and colors, be liked by whoever sees them, be sharp, understanding and responsive, peaceful and stable, seldom get sick, and be without non-humans that would rob their essential air."
Then World Honored One told Ananda, "As I declared and praised all merits of that World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, this belonged to the sphere of very profound activities of Buddhas and was difficult to comprehend, did you believe it or not?" Ananda replied, "Great Virtuous One, World Honored One, to sutras spoken by Tathagata I had no doubt arising. Why was it so? The physical, verbal and mental activities of all Tathagatas are without impurities. World Honored One, sun and moon could be made to fall down, Mount Sumeru could be toppled or moved, and yet what Buddhas said would not vary. World Honored One, some sentient beings lacked the root of faith, upon hearing about the sphere of very profound activities of Buddhas, they would think thus: how could all those merits and superior benefits be obtained by simply repeating the epithets of one Buddha, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light? Due to this disbelief, in reaction there arose slander. They would lose great advantage and happiness in the extensive night of ignorance, fall into various bad realms, and transmigrate endlessly." Buddha told Ananda, "These sentient beings, if they heard the epithets of World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, and wholeheartedly maintained repetition thereof without any doubt arising, then it could not be the case that they would fall into bad realms. Ananda, this belonged to very profound activities of Buddhas and was difficult to believe or comprehend. Now you could receive it; you should know that it was all due to awesome power of Tathagata. Ananda, all Sravakas, Pratyeka-Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas that had not attained Bhumis, cannot believe and comprehend it as truth, except Bodhisattvas that are on the verge of attaining Buddhahood. Ananda, human body is difficult to attain. It is also difficult to attain faith, respect and reverence with regard to the Triple Gems. It is even more difficult than these to hear the epithets of World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light. Ananda, if the immeasurable Bodhisattva activities, immeasurable skillful means and immeasurable extensive great vows of that Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light were to be expounded extensively by me for one kalpa or over one kalpa, soon the kalpa would be over and yet that Buddha’s activities, vows and skillful means could not be exhausted."
Then among the assembly there was a great Bodhisattva by the name of "Salvation." He rose up from his seat, exposed his right shoulder as a gesture of respect, his right knee to the ground, bowed his body, folded his palms, and said to Buddha, "Great Virtuous One, World Honored One, during the period of the spreading of semblance of Dharma some sentient beings would be tormented by all sorts of diseases. Due to chronic illness they would be weak and thin, and could not eat or drink. Their throats and lips would be dry, and they would see darkness everywhere. Signs of impending death would be present, with parents, relatives, friends and acquaintances surrounding and crying in tears. Even while their bodies would still lie at the same place, they would see agents of Yama leading their consciousness to the presence of Judicial King Yama. Now that each sentient being had an accompanying god since birth that would record whatever that sentient being had done, be it sinful or meritorious. The records would all be presented to the Judicial King Yama. Then the King would question this person, evaluate what had been done, and then hand down judgment according to his sins and merits. At that time if relatives and acquaintances of that patient could, on his behalf, take refuge in World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, beseech monks to recite this sutra, light seven-layer lamps, and hang five-color banner of consciousness for extension of longevity. Then it could happen that his consciousness might return; he would be able to see the whole process clearly like in a dream. Or it could take seven days, twenty-one days, thirty-five days, or forty-nine days for the returning to happen. When the consciousness would return it would be similar to waking up from a dream. The person would remember what consequences each good or bad karma would lead to. Since they had witnessed in person the consequences of karmas, even when facing dangers of life they would not commit bad karmas. Therefore, all good men and good women with pure faith should maintain repetition of the epithets of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, and respectfully make offerings as much as they could."
Then Ananda asked Bodhisattva Salvation, "Good man, how should one respectfully make offerings to that World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light? And how to construct the banner and lamp for extension of longevity?" Bodhisattva Salvation said, "Great Virtuous One, if there were a patient who would like to relieve suffering of illness, then on that person’s behalf one should receive and maintain the eight-branch rules of fasting and austerity for the duration of seven days and seven nights. One should make offerings of foods, drinks and other sustenance, as much as one could, to Bhiksus. Three times in daytime and three times in nighttime one should make prostration and offerings to that World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light. One should recite this sutra forty-nine times. One should light forty-nine lamps as follows: have seven statues of that Tathagata made; in front of each statue place seven lamps, with each lamp as large as a wheel, and sustain the brightness for forty-nine days. One should have a five-color silk banner made that is forty-nine vitasti (the length between extended thumb and middle finger) long. One should release various kinds of sentient beings to freedom, and the total number should be up to forty-nine. Thus the patient could overcome the danger, and not become hostage to those malicious ghosts of various accidental deaths."
"Furthermore, great virtuous Ananda, if calamities arose to Ksatriya Initiated Kings, such as epidemics, invasion by foreign countries, rebellion from within, abnormal phenomena of astrology, eclipse and waning of sun or moon, out of season winds and rains, rains overdue, then those Ksatriya Initiated Kings should develop compassionate mind toward all sentient beings. They should release prisoners from jails, and make offerings according to the ways of making offerings as stated above to that World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light. Due to this root of goodness and the power of the original vows of that Tathagata, right then their country would be rendered peaceful and secure, rains and winds would arrive in season, grains and crops would mature, all sentient beings are free from illnesses and joyful. In their countries there would be no violent malicious deities such as yaksas that tend to torment sentient beings. All bad signs would disappear right away. As to the Ksatriya Initiated Kings, their longevity, physical strength, freedom from diseases, and ease would all increase and improve. Great virtuous Ananda, if queens, imperial concubines, crown princes, princes, high officials, ministers, palace retainers, government officials, or ordinary people were tormented by sickness or other disasters, they should also have five-color banners of consciousness made and set it up, light lamps and continue their brightness, release various lives, scatter flowers of variegated colors, and burn all sorts of fine incenses. Thus their illnesses and all their hardships would be relieved."
Then Ananda asked Bodhisattva Salvation, "Good man, why a life that was ending could be extended?" Bodhisattva Salvation said, "Great Virtuous One, haven’t you heard Tathagata said that there were nine kinds of accidental deaths? Therefore, I recommended people to have banner and lamps made for extension of longevity and to accumulate various meritorious virtues. Through accumulation of merits one would live the entire life without experiencing suffering and calamities." Ananda asked, "What are the nine kinds of accidental deaths?" Bodhisattva Salvation said, "If sentient beings got sick even though only mildly, and yet without treatment, medication and nurse, furthermore suppose that they were given wrong medication by the doctor they encountered, then, even though they should not have died and yet they unexpectedly died right away. In addition, they believed evil teachers of worldly wicked and heterodox doctrines. Upon hearing those teachers’ arbitrary sayings of fortune and misfortune they became frightened and affected. Their minds did not adhere to righteousness; instead they looked for misfortune by asking for divinations. They killed various kinds of sentient beings, and cut them up as offerings to deities. They called upon various spirits of mountains, rivers, trees or rocks to beg for blessings of fortune. They desired and expected to extend their longevity, but eventually they could not get it. Being ignorant and confused, they believed in erroneous and perverse views. Consequently they died unexpectedly and entered hell realm without a date for escape. This is called the first kind of accidental deaths. The second kind of accidental deaths are those who were abruptly slaughtered by royal decree. The third kind of accidental deaths are those who engaged in hunting and playing, addicted to promiscuity and drinking, displayed uninhibited indulgence, and were abruptly robbed of their essential air by non-humans. The fourth kind of accidental deaths are those who were abruptly burned by fire. The fifth kind of accidental deaths are those who were abruptly drowned by water. The sixth kind of accidental deaths are those who were abruptly bitten by various kinds of fierce animals. The seventh kind of accidental deaths are those who accidentally fell off cliffs. The eighth kind of accidental deaths are those who abruptly fell victim to poisons, malicious prayers, curses, ghosts called forth from corpses, etc. The ninth kind of accidental deaths are those who were suffering from hunger and thirst but could not obtain foods and drinks, and consequently died prematurely. Such were Tathagata’s brief account of these nine kinds of accidental deaths. Besides them there are, in addition, immeasurable various kinds of accidental deaths that are difficult to enumerate fully."
"Furthermore, great virtuous Ananda, that King Yama is in charge of records of names of all people in the world. If sentient beings had been unfilial, committed the five heinous sins, damaged or disgraced the Triple Gems, violated rules among sovereigns and officials, or transgressed faith and silas, then Judicial King Yama would ascertain the heaviness or lightness of their sins and punish them accordingly. Therefore, now I urge sentient beings to light lamps, make banners, release lives and accumulate merits, so that they would overcome sufferings and dangers and remain free from all disasters."
Then among the assembly there were twelve Yaksa Great Generals; all sat together. They were the so-called:
| Great General Gong Pi Luo | Great General Fa Zhe Luo |
| Great General Mi Qi Luo | Great General An Di Luo |
| Great General E Ni Luo | Great General Shan Di Luo |
| Great General Yin Da Luo | Great General Bo Yi Luo |
| Great General Mo Hu Luo | Great General Zhen Da Luo |
| Great General Zhao Du Luo | Great General Pi Jie Luo |
(Translator's note: The names are written in Pin Yin.)
These twelve Yaksa Great Generals, each with an entourage of seven thousand yaksas, simultaneously raised their voices and said to Buddha, "World Honored One, now that all of us have been blessed by the awesome power of Buddha to have heard the epithets of World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, and will no longer have fear of bad realms. All of us jointly with one mind take refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha for the entire rest of our lives. We vow to carry all sentient beings by providing them with benefits, prosperity, peace and happiness. In whatever village, city, country, land or unfrequented forest if there were people who propagated this sutra or, in addition, maintained repetition of the epithets of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light and respectfully made offerings, our entourage would guard these people so that they would be liberated from all sufferings and disasters, and all their wishes would be fulfilled. Those who are seeking relief from sickness or hardship should also recite this sutra, and use five-color threads to knit our names. Untie the knitting only after the wishes have been fulfilled."
Then World Honored One praised the Yaksa Great Generals by saying, "Good, good, Great Yaksa Generals, those of you who would like to repay the gracious kindness of World Honored One, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, should constantly benefit, in this manner, all sentient beings by inducing peace and happiness."
Then Ananda said to Buddha, "World Honored One, what should this Dharma gate be named? How do those of us adhere to it?" Buddha told Ananda, "This Dharma gate is named ‘Expounding the Merits and Original Vows of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light,’ also named ‘Expounding the Supreme Mantra of Knitting Wishes to Benefit Sentient Beings by Twelve Supreme Generals,’ and also named ‘Eradicating All Karmic Hindrances.’ It should be thus adhered to." When Bhagavan had said these words, all those great Bodhisattvas and great Sravakas, kings, high officials, Brahmans, householders, heavenly beings, dragons, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, humans, non-humans, etc., were extremely joyful to have heard Buddha’s words. They all received the teachings with great faith and practiced accordingly.
Translation completed on December 21, 2001
El Cerrito, California
B. Recite the Twelve Original Great Vows
The first great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may my body be glowingly bright to shine upon immeasurable countless boundless worlds, and be adorned with the thirty-two marks of a great man and the eighty ensuing refined features. I shall render all beings to resemble me without differences.
The second great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may my body be like Lapis Lazuli, transparent throughout and pure without blemish, with extensive brightness and majestic merits, well at ease, and adorned with aureole brighter than sun and moon. Sentient beings in hell would all be taught the right path. I would engage in all kinds of salvation activities as my intention moves along.
The third great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may I employ countless boundless skillful means of wisdom to render all beings in possession of inexhaustible things of comfort but not to let sentient beings in want of anything.
The fourth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may I settle well all those who practice the heterodox ways onto the Bodhi path, and establish securely those who practice Sravakayana or Pratyeka-Buddha-yana in Mahayana.
The fifth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may the countless boundless sentient beings who would cultivate pure conducts in accordance with my teachings all attain no breach of silas and fulfill the three cumulative silas. If they fail to comply or violate silas, upon hearing my name, they would regain purity and not fall into bad realms.
The sixth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may those sentient beings who are physically inferior with incomplete senses, and are suffering from being ugly, retarded, blind, deaf, mute, victim of convulsion, crippled, humpbacked, leprous, lunatic, or sick with various diseases, upon hearing my name, all attain proper features, become smart, with all senses wholesome, and without any illness.
The seventh great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may those sentient beings who are tormented by diseases but with neither help nor refuge, neither medical treatment nor medication, neither relatives nor family, yet in poverty with much hardship, upon hearing my name, all become free from diseases, attain peace and joy of body and mind, have abundance of family and possessions, and even up to all attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment.
The eighth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may those women who are tormented by hundreds of sufferings of the female sex, and are extremely weary to the extent of wishing to give up their female bodies, upon hearing my name, all transform into men with proper male features, and even up to all attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment.
The ninth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may I render all sentient beings escape the nets of evils, and become free from entanglements of heterodox ways. If they are trapped in all sorts of dense forest of perversive views, I will induce and introduce them to right views, gradually lead them to practice the Bodhisattva ways, and help them soon attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment.
The tenth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may those sentient beings who are condemned by royal laws to be bound by ropes, lashed by whips, enchained in prisons, or executed, and are tormented by numerous other disasters and insults so that they are afflicted by sorrow and anguish, and are suffering in both body and mind, upon hearing my name, through the majestic supernatural power of my merits and virtue, all become free from all sorrows and sufferings.
The eleventh great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may those sentient beings who are tormented by hunger and thirst, and, in order to obtain food, have committed all sorts of evil karma, will have the opportunity to hear my name and will then continue to repeat my name whole-heartedly. Then I shall first satisfy their physical needs with most wondrous foods and drinks, and afterwards provide them with the flavors of Dharma so as to establish them in ultimate peace and joy.
The twelfth great vow: In the future when I shall attain unsurpassable complete Enlightenment may those sentient beings who are poor without clothing, tormented day and night by mosquitoes, wasps, cold and heat, upon hearing my name will continue to repeat it whole-heartedly, and then they will obtain all sorts of most wondrous clothing just as they prefer them to be. They will also obtain all kinds of jewel ornaments, floral garlands, perfumes, drums and music, dancers, whatever their hearts desire will all be satisfied.
VIII. Chanting
Repeat one of the following for a certain number of times to be decided by the practitioner.
A. Epithet of Buddha
Namo Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light
B. The Great Dharani
Both mantras below are written in Pin Yin.
Na Mo Bo Qie Fa Di, Bei Sha She Ju Lu, Bi Liu Li, Bo La Po, He Luo She Ye, Da Tuo Jie Duo Ye, A Luo He Di, San Miao San Bo Tuo Ye, Da Zhi Ta, An, Bei Sha Shi, Bei Sha Shi, Bei Sha She, San Mo Jie Di, Suo He.
C. The Heart Mantra
An, Bei Sha Shi, Bei Sha Shi, Bei Sha She, San Mo Jie Di, Suo He.
IX. Dedication
Devoutly and reverently practice for the enlightenment of all beings.
May this endeavor move all seven Buddhas to grant their blessings!
May sentient beings become free from sufferings, attain peace and stability,
And diligently advance on the path to achieve complete enlightenment soon!
X. Application
Visualize that all holy beings in the space in front transform into lights of blue, white, yellow, red or green colors and merge into Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light. All sentient beings transform into white lights and merge into the practitioner. Then Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light transforms into blue light and merges into the practitioner. Then the practitioner transforms into blue light and returns to the Blank Essence. Abide in the cloudless blue space that resulted from all returning to Blank Essence.
From this blue space of Blank Essence suddenly appears, like a fish jumping out of the surface of water, the phenomena world as known by our senses. This phenomena world appears outwardly to be no different from before the practice session; however, its content has been purified through the Blank Essence visualization. The practitioner no longer holds it as existing absolutely on its own, and would not become attached to appearances. Through the blessing of Tathagatas the practitioner would conduct activities in accordance with the Twelve Great Vows in daily life as occasions arise.
Auspicious Completion of the Sadhana
Origination of and Explanation on this Sadhana
I. Origination
In 1996 I compiled the Sadhana of Medicine Guru Buddha in Chinese. Since then the Chinese sadhana has been printed thrice, in total 8,000 copies, for free distribution. In the second edition, that was the third printing, an inspirational record related to this ritual was appended to it.
This year I translated the Sutra of Medicine Guru Buddha from Chinese into English. Then I started to translate this sadhana for the English-reading world. In place of the inspirational record mentioned above, other inspirational records and my related works are included below as appendices.
Among Chinese Buddhists there is a tradition of practitioners who devote themselves mainly to the worship of Medicine Guru Buddha and to the practice of chanting his holy epithets and sutra. May the presence of this sadhana similarly foster such a tradition among Buddhists all over the world!
II. Explanation
This sadhana is compiled for concentrated practice in the Dharma gate of Medicine Guru Buddha. This kind of concentrated practice has the advantage of using limited time and energy to achieve in-depth results through developing the habit of regular daily sessions. Therefore, it is suitable for Buddhists who follow an ordinary secular life to adopt this sadhana. Practitioners of such practices should understand that the concentration does not imply an exclusive mentality to other practices. Rather, it signifies that through mastery of one path one may comprehend the essence that is common to all paths.
In this sadhana Refuge and Bodhicitta have been tailored to become directly linked to the Medicine Guru Dharma. Sangha help sentient beings in ways similar to Medicine Gurus’ treatment of diseases; therefore, they may be called as "Medicine Guru Sangha."
In this sadhana there are twice returning to Blank Essence. The first time is right after Refuge and Bodhicitta, so as to evaporate the practitioner’s attachment to beings and things in the world. Furthermore, it enables the practitioner to conduct the remaining sections of the sadhana in the limitless time and space of the whole Dharmadhatu, and thereby help develop the openness that encompasses all in the Dharmadhatu as one. The second returning to Blank Essence is after the dedication of merits, so as to clean up the practitioner’s attachment to Dharma-related matters such as states of meditation, inspirational experiences, merits, supernatural powers, etc. Furthermore, it would help the practitioner, after completion of the session, to carry out the great vows of Buddha in daily activities from a completely purified state of mind.
The stanzas of offering and praise are composed in accordance with the main points taught in the sutra. In this way the practitioner would recall the key elements of the teachings through recitation of these stanzas. In the stanza of offering, not only items of sustenance and material offerings are mentioned, but also all kinds of Dharma activities. This is because nothing can please Buddhas more than minds and deeds that are in accordance with the teachings. While reciting the stanzas one may use vajra, bell, drum, and other musical Dharma instruments.
Prostration can be the usual kneel-and-bow type or the full-length type of tantric Buddhism. Recitation of the whole sutra can also be divided into three parts so that the practitioner will read one third of the sutra in one session and finish one round in three sessions.
Written on December 28, 2001
El Cerrito, California
APPENDICIES
A. Compassionate Instruction from Medicine Guru Buddha
Yutang Lin
Attendants led the way with Dharma conches resounding;
Medicine Guru Buddha kindly taught to install his statue.
Tibetan style holy sculpture unifying emptiness and existence,
For all to worship and thereby purify illusions and confusions.
Comment:
This morning I went to offer Dragon vases and release lives. Right before the alarm watch rang at five o’clock, in a dream I saw the Medicine Guru Buddha. At the beginning several attendants appeared one after another; their sizes were gradually larger and larger. The last ones blew Dharma conches and the melody was resounding. Then Medicine Guru Buddha appeared. He kindly instructed that a Tibetan style statue of himself should be installed, allowing many people to come to worship it. Then he himself transformed into a brass statue in sitting posture. It was a little smaller than the size of an ordinary adult. The statue was empty inside, and the whole body consisted of horizontal short stripes that are intersected with empty space of same shape and size. I think such an intersection of emptiness and existence indicates that the meritorious appearance of a Buddha is in harmonious union of Sunyata and wondrous existence. Its Tibetan style implies blessings of the tantric lineage. In the world of all kinds of delusions and confusions people have all sorts of illness and suffering. Medicine Guru Buddha granted this compassionate instruction so as to provide a convenient way for people to obtain relief through worshipping. People who make offerings or prostrations to this statue of Medicine Guru Buddha may thereby reduce their karmic hindrances and accumulate merits, and gradually attain peace and ease in their lives. Ultimately in this way we could even transform this muddy world into a peaceful Pureland. I would follow this instruction and realize it when the conditions meet so as to benefit many people. Yesterday I composed "The River of Lives"; today I was blessed with this inspiration. The compassionate vows of Medicine Guru Buddha to protect sentient beings would respond to my thoughts for sentient beings so immediately as echoes in valleys.
Written in Chinese: October 27, 1998
Translated: August 28, 1999
El Cerrito, California
B. Holy Statue Installed as Instructed
Yutang Lin
Medicine Guru Buddha instructed in person to install a Tibetan statue;
Auspicious conditions have since gathered smoothly and reached completion.
Precious appearance is majestic with spirit vividly alive;
Devotees all receive blessings through making prostration and offerings.
Comment:
Previously the Medicine Guru Buddha compassionately granted the instruction to install a Tibetan style statue of His Holiness so that many people may come to worship it. In January while staying in Taiwan I asked Tan Seong Yeow to look for a proper statue for me. He generously offered me one, and I have installed it on the altar of my family in Taipei. He also found a larger one in a store. The storeowner was a Buddhist Tibetan who was so kind as to let us have it for less than half the listed price. This one is now installed on my altar at home in El Cerrito. Both statues in Taipei and El Cerrito look majestic and vividly alive. May people who have the auspicious connection with Buddha could come to pay respect to the statues so as to receive the blessings, and thereby reduce their karmic hindrances, accumulate merits and develop wisdom. In Taipei one Upasaka who came to do prostration to the statue had confided to me that he sensed a tremendous power of blessing.
Written in Chinese: February 6, 1999
Translated: September 8, 1999
El Cerrito, California
C. Fire Puja to Medicine Guru Buddha
Yutang Lin
Pouring or drizzling rain in keeping with tempo and rhythm,
Bright fire shines and dances while clothing remains unwetted.
Master and attendant rabbits face the Medicine Guru Buddha;
Seven deer appear looking far ahead into the path in front.
Comment:
Today during the fire puja to Medicine Guru Buddha there were some auspicious signs. These are carefully recorded below: Rain came now and then; sometimes pouring, sometimes drizzling. With Buddha’s blessings the heavy downpour and hairlike drizzle match the periods when we were preparing the offerings inside the hut or performing the fire ceremony outdoors. Consequently, the fire was big and bright while our clothing was not even wet by the rain. At the end, the firewood came down and spread evenly in all directions. The ashes formed two rabbits. The larger one, with a pink eye, sat at the center of the fire altar, crouching on the throne formed by several coconuts. To the right front below its throne sat a smaller rabbit. Both rabbits faced squarely toward the Medicine Guru Buddha. The coming lunar year is of the sign of rabbit. Hence the appearance of these rabbits should be an auspicious omen of the coming for refuge in Buddha of many sentient beings. On the way home we saw seven deer stood on hillside by the road; the number happens to coincide with that of the Medicine Guru Buddhas. In the wilderness of this area occasionally we would encounter deer, at most three or five at a time. This is the first time we saw seven deer; as if the seven Buddhas came in transformation to grant blessings. How inconceivable it was!
Written in Chinese: February 8, 1999
Translated: September 9, 1999
El Cerrito, California
D. Hail to Medicine Guru Buddha
Yutang Lin
Medicine Guru Buddha, the father who leaves no details untouched!
Medicine Guru Buddha, the father who comes in person to teach!
Medicine Guru Buddha, the father who has corrected my posture!
Medicine Guru Buddha, the father who empathizes so subtly!
Comment:
Feelings of gratitude occasionally need to be expressed in speech or words, or even through cheers spontaneously. In recent days I have deeply felt the grace of constant blessings and teachings from Medicine Guru Buddha; therefore, this proclamation is composed as a kind of "Hail to the Chief."
The twelve great vows of Medicine Guru Buddha encompass caring for all sufferings of sentient beings; indeed the great compassion would leave no details untouched. Through his grace I received instructions from him in a dream; he said that his statue should be installed for the public to come worshipping. Now in accordance with his teaching I have installed one statue on the altar at home in California, and one on the altar at my mother’s place in Taipei. The other day I again received instruction in a dream showing me how to correct my posture; indeed his care for devoted practitioners encompasses all details.
Not long ago I composed "A Ritual for Daily Practice of the Medicine Guru Buddha." In the early morning of the next day I saw in a dream a large courtyard with many lotuses planted in the center, yet there is no water. I walked into the courtyard, stamped once with my right foot, and thereupon, clear water filled the floor to cover the roots of these lotuses. I suppose that this dream signifies that this ritual could irrigate and nourish practitioners who are dedicated to the teachings of Medicine Guru Buddha. The first edition of this ritual has been given to interested Buddhists, and there is only few copies left. Right now the second edition is being printed, with an appendix added, describing the inspirational events that took place in Hunan, China when the ritual books were received there. Buddha’s grace is also in keeping with the interdependent origination of things. I have received special blessings because I had contributed to the composition and distribution of this ritual. To repay Buddha’s grace, it is not just a matter of cheers and hails; I should endeavor to propagate the practice of this ritual so that all would enjoy similar or better blessings.
Written in Chinese: February 18, 1999
Translated: September 10, 1999
El Cerrito, California
E. Inspirational Experience with the Healing Buddha Image
A letter from Mrs. Nel Noordzij
P.M. Noordzij, Ph.D,
F. 74200 Thonon-les-Bains.
12.3.2001.
Dear Dr.Yutang Lin,
Some time ago I received your copy of the Holy Image of Healing Buddha and because my right pulse has been broken and operated and I had to learn typing with my left hand it took a bit longer to write you and tell what happened in full length.
After I left the hospital I suffered an almost unbearable pain and was not able to make even a tiny move. The next day a dear friend of mine brought me the envelop with the copy from the postbox and opened it for me. We both admired it and then she proposed to buy a modest frame for it as a present, and she left.
While I was alone in bed I laid the copy spontaneously on the plaster on my pulse.
I did not think about it furthermore, I had no thoughts, I did ask nothing,- perhaps deep, deep down there had been some expectation in a flash, but the pain was too severe to cling at an expectation whatsoever. And besides of that I did not yet really know much about the Healing Buddha. So inwardly I was silent, almost empty and mentally not active at all.
After about ten to fifteen minutes I got the feeling as if something was floating out of my arm, and indeed it was the pain! At first I could not believe it and even did not dare to control it by making some movements. But it had really happened, the pain was gone and never came back! Only the pain of the stitches remained a bit after some time.
I can only hope that occurences like this in some way or another may happen to many, many people as a result of your kindness to send copies all over the world of the Healing Buddha!
Thank you again, Dr. Lin, I am very grateful,
Mrs. Nel Noordzij
F. To Receive the Blessing
Yutang Lin
When words about the miraculous blessing spread,
All rushed to download the image for speedy gain.
Self-interest hinders the communion into oneness;
Pure faith and practice would in time yield results.
Comment:
Mrs. Nel Noordzij of France was blessed by the holy image of the Healing Buddha to be suddenly rid of the severe pain in her arm that was continuously there after an operation. For details please read her letter, "Inspirational Experience with the Healing Buddha Image." When her friends learned about such a miraculous event, they all rushed to download this image from Yogi Chen’s Homepage, and prayed for their particular wishes. Nothing came out of such endeavors.
Indeed the holy image contains power of blessing. However, such blessing cannot be invoked by selfish aims. Mrs. Nel Noordzij was in severe pain at that time and the pain made her unable to think of anything. Consequently she was in a state closer to original purity, and hence Buddha’s blessing can readily work on her to remove the pain that is a manifestation of karmic hindrance. Ordinary people, without proper training, could hardly attain and sustain a state of no thoughts. Therefore, they should first practice making offerings and prostration to the image, and engage in chanting practices in order to develop pure faith and mind free from conceptualization. Only then could they sense the blessings from Buddha and be benefited.
Written in Chinese on March 16, 2001
Translated on March 17, 2001
El Cerrito, California
G. Bodhi Vows
Yutang Lin
Original vows of Medicine Guru viewed as a whole,
Leaving no details unattended in every aspect of life.
Unless Bodhi had already been attained completely,
How could compassion reach such width and depth!
Comment:
Recently I had translated from Chinese into English the twelve great vows of Medicine Guru Buddha. Through this endeavor I gained appreciation of the perfect Bodhi State of mind that runs through the vows as a whole. In short, the vows reviewed all karmic hindrances of sentient beings with a view to eradicate all of them by the power of enlightenment, and to bring all sentient beings up to the point of sharing the fruits of enlightenment. Ordinarily, developing Bodhi vows is considered as the first step toward enlightenment. However, upon full appreciation of the intent of the original vows of Medicine Guru, one could not help but admire such revelation of complete Bodhicitta. Once we understood such compassionate state of mind we would be bound to feel that, all beings aspiring toward enlightenment should sustain the same intentions.
Written in Chinese on November 23, 2001
Translated on November 26, 2001
El Cerrito, California
My Bodhicitta Vows
(Used for Dedication of Merits)
Dr. Yutang Lin
1. May virtuous gurus remain with us and those departed return soon!
2. May perverse views and violence soon become extinct and Dharma spread without hindrance!
3. May all beings proceed diligently on the path and achieve Buddhahood before death!
4. May all beings develop Great Compassion and never regress until they reach perfect Buddhahood!
5. May all beings develop Great Wisdom and never regress until they reach perfect Buddhahood!
Acknowledgement
Thanks to Upasaka Kwok Sing Hung for formatting the computer file.
Thanks to all Buddhists who helped the publication of this booklet.
Sadhana of Medicine Guru Buddha
NOT FOR SALE
Donation toward printing and free distribution is welcome.
Reverently compiled by Dr. Yutang Lin
First Edition, 2003
1,000 copies
Printed in Taiwan
All rights reserved by Dr. Yutang Lin.
Reprint or redistribute only with permission from Dr. Yutang Lin
For your free copy
Please write to:
Dr. Yutang Lin
705 Midcrest Way
El Cerrito, CA 94530-3310
U.S.A
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