Medicine Buddha Day
June 3 All day
8th day of the lunar month
Medicine Buddha day falls on the 8th day of the lunar month. Medicine Buddha or Bhaiṣajyaguru visualization has been practiced in many forms of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. According to the Mahayana Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabhā-rāja Sūtra, the bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyaguru made twelve great vows. In particular, he aspired that he be able to heal all beings’ physical sufferings and mental illnesses. Moreover, he vowed to relieve them from the sufferings of hunger, thirst, and destitution. When through his practice he reached enlightenment, his supreme aspirations were fulfilled. Thus he became endowed with the power to help heal and dispel those sufferings. Therefore, for those suffering from various temporary or critical illnesses, the practice of Medicine Buddha is extremely relevant and beneficial.
Medicine Buddha Visualization and Mantra
Samye Institute’s free Noble Living, Noble Caring, Noble Dying course features an entire unit devoted to Medicine Buddha practice. Our partners at Akara Collection offer a beautiful Medicine Buddha Thangka to support your practice.
