Medicine Guru Buddha Unification Sadhana

Yutang Lin


Preliminaries

Arrange offerings as usual.
Do prostration three times.


Regular Practice

Ascend the seat and practice in accordance with the sadhana as follows:


1. Motivation

Fold palms together and sincerely recite:

In a blink the swift changes of impermanence may arrive,
Sentient beings are drifting in the ocean of suffering,
This altruistic session born of sober clarity is all too precious,
For all beings this sadhana is practiced to realize Medicine Guru Buddha.


2. Original Purity

Rest the hands in Dhyana mudra, and silently recite three times:

All things are conditional phenomena,
Mutually dependent and coexistent;
Renouncing antagonistic discriminations,
All appear as original purity in oneness.

Visualize the whole Dharmadhatu return to original purity, and appear as boundless sky-blue light.


3. Totality

Visualize that all the four classes of saints and the six realms of sentient beings appear from this blue light.

Visualize that one's father and mother are to the right and left side, all beings related to one through past karma to the front, and the rest of the sentient beings behind. Among the six realms of sentient beings behind one, those in hells who need salvation most are closest to one, then are the other beings in the order of hungry ghosts, animals, humans, asuras, and finally the heavenly beings. All sentient beings are facing the same direction as the practitioner.

Visualize that in the space in front of the practitioner are all the holy beings: Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arahats, Pratyeka-Buddhas, Dharma Protectors, etc. At their center are the seven Medicine Guru Buddhas, with the main one, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, accompanied by two great Bodhisattvas, Sunlight Everywhere and Moonlight Everywhere, standing on his right and left sides in attendance, at the center, and the remaining six Medicine Guru Buddhas are at the six hexagonal points. With great compassion all holy beings look attentively at all the sentient beings below.


4. Taking Refuge

Fold palms together and sincerely recite three times the following refuge formula while visualizing that all sentient beings are gazing with admiration at Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light in the sky and recite together in unison:

I take refuge in the Vajra Guru.
I take refuge in the Medicine Guru Buddhas.
I take refuge in harmonious Buddha Dharma.
I take refuge in holy beings of Bodhi.

Visualize that all holy beings are rejoicing over sentient beings' ability to recognize and choose the path toward liberation. Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, on behalf of all holy beings, grants refuge to all sentient beings. From the heart chakra of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light rays of blue light radiates forth to each and every sentient being. In this way each sentient being's bad karma is eradicated, merits increased, and Bodhicitta nurtured. This ray of blue light then stays, like a candle flame, in the heart of the sentient being, shines forth the light of Bodhi, and sheds light on the right path of Bodhi forever.


5. Offering

Visualize that all sentient beings take delight in participating the making of extensive and long-term offerings and donations, and that they join the practitioner in reciting in unison the following stanza:

Filling the whole Dharmadhatu with treasures,
Pouring all attainments of the wisdom path,
Offered without reluctance nor omission;

Beg to accept out of compassion and empathy,
Exhibit skillful display of the wondrous Dharma,
Salvage without neglect nor omission.

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.

Visualize that all holy beings are delighted by the Bodhicitta which is the pure motivation underlying these offerings, and therefore gladly accept and enjoy the offerings. Each and every holy being obtains complete enjoyment of all sorts. All holy beings emit lights in blue, white, yellow, red and green color that enlighten the whole Dharmadhatu and give blessings to all sentient beings. Then all holy beings other than the Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light transform into lights and merge into the heart chakra of the Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light.


6. Praise

Recite with ardent devotion and may use accompanying Dharma instruments such as bell, drum, inverted bell (Yin Qing) and wooden fish; visualize that all sentient beings join the practitioner in ardently reciting in unison the following praise:

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.

Holy Medicine Guru Buddha emits pure lights,
Spiritual nature of sentient beings in all directions are revealed!

Holy Medicine Guru Buddha enunciates clear sounds,
Sorrows of sentient beings at all times are eradicated!

Holy Medicine Guru Buddha always remembered,
Suffering of illnesses and dangers to life will all be pacified!

Holy Medicine Guru Buddha is the savior,
Calamities extinguished, life prolonged, and Bodhi attained!

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!

Visualize that Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, upon hearing this praise, is very pleased by the right faith of the practitioner and the sentient beings. Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light emits bright blue lights from his heart chakra shining through the whole Dharmadhatu and giving blessings to all sentient beings. Then Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light sprinkles showers of nectar upon sentient beings to purify their karma of body, speech and mind. The nectar is also granted for sentient beings to drink in order to nourish their wisdom life and corporeal life.


7. Accomplishment

Visualize that, through the nectar blessing of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, all sentient beings in the whole Dharmadhatu have returned to the original purity; they all transform and merge into a boundless sky-blue light. Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, having thus purified all sentient beings, also transforms and merges into this light of original purity. The whole Dharmadhatu becomes a limitless and indiscriminative Oneness.

In this vast expanse of blue brilliance, suddenly there appears a karma vajra. Above the karma vajra, there appears a magnificent Dharma seat supported by eight lions.

Then above the seat there appears, one after the other and one above the other, a lotus, a sun cushion and a moon cushion. At the center of the moon cushion there appears a blue seed word "Hong" standing upright. Hong transforms into Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light with blue brilliant rainbow body, appearing as a Buddha wearing monk's robes, and sitting in lotus posture. His right hand extends forward and rests on his knee with his palm facing outside and his thumb and index finger holding a Wish-fulfilling Liberation medicinal herb. His left hand holds a precious vase of Longevity in front of his belly. In the heart chakra of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light there is a lotus, above which is a sun cushion, and a moon cushion atop. Standing upright at the center of this moon cushion is a blue seed word "Hong." Evenly distributed around and above the circumference of the moon cushion are the words constituting the Heart Mantra of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light. All words of this mantra wheel are blue in color and are arranged counterclockwise in their regular order.

The Heart Mantra of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light

Weng, Pi Ka Jiu, Pi Ka Jiu, Ma Ha Pi Ka Jiu, Lan Zha Sha Ma Ka Die, So Ha.


8. Spinning

Recite the Heart Mantra and simultaneously visualize that the mantra wheel in the heart chakra is spinning. The word Hong at the center remains still. The mantra wheel spins clockwise with ever increasing speed. After a long while of spinning, the mantra wheel gradually slows down until it comes to a complete stop.

As the mantra wheel spins, it simultaneously emits waves of blue light spreading in all directions throughout the whole Dharmadhatu. With each wave of blue light countless numbers of Medicine Guru Buddhas are sent forth. These Medicine Guru Buddhas surf the waves of light to all corners of the Dharmadhatu in order to salvage all sorts of sentient beings.


9. One Breath

With mouth closed and tongue touching the upper front palate, practice deep breathing through the nostrils. While inhaling visualize that the ignorance, sinful karma, sickness, suffering, sorrows, karmic hindrances, etc., of all sentient beings are transforming into foul and black air, and yet are inhaled by Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light out of great compassion. While holding the breath visualize that all such foul and black air has been purified by the profound wisdom and countless merits of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light into clean and fresh air of wisdom and compassion which will nourish the wisdom life of each and every sentient being. While exhaling visualize that this clean and fresh air of wisdom and compassion permeates the whole Dharmadhatu, nourishing and maturing all sentient beings so that they would open and expand their minds and attain full enlightenment soon.


10. Identification

Having merged through the communion in one breath of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light and all sentient beings, Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light and sentient beings transform into light and become one in the brilliant blue light of original purity. The nominal distinction between " Tathagata" and "sentient being" gradually fades away. The whole Dharmadhatu again appears as limitless blue brilliance.

From this brightness of original purity Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light appears in human form as the practitioner to facilitate teaching and salvaging sentient beings in this world in accordance with their various aptitudes and conditions. Then Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light descends from the seat. Afterwards Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light employs the form, speeches and activities of the practitioner to expand ingenious contrivances in limitless fashions toward the compassionate salvation of all sentient beings.

Epilog

Yesterday I had just reverently composed "Bodhisattva Earth Treasure Unification Sadhana," today I already received a request from disciple Jui Khin Yeo of Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia for my composition of this sadhana so that Buddhists interested in practicing the Dharma Gate of Medicine Guru Buddha may adopt it for daily practices. Therefore, I continued my diligent efforts and reverently composed this work. May the merciful blessing of Tathagata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light be granted so that all who adopt this as a daily practice will attain realization of Medicine Guru Buddha soon!

Written in Chinese on November 26, 2006
Translated into English on November 30, 2006
A Study for the Cultivation of Harmony
El Cerrito, California, USA


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