The Twelve Sacred Vows and Dharma Protectors of Medicine Buddha

TADYATA OM BHEKHANDZYE BHEKHANDZYE 

MAHA BHEKHANDZYE

RADZA SAMUDGATE SVAHA

Buddha Shakyamuni gave the Medicine Buddha teachings at the perfect moment and at the perfect place – Vaishali, India. Buddha Shakyamuni presented the teaching that would be preserved as the Sutra of the Medicine Buddha. This teaching became very prominent in India and came to Tibet in the eighth century. 

Master Shantarakshita, who was known for the beautiful praises and sadhanas that he composed for all the Medicine Buddhas, first introduced the Medicine Buddha teaching in Tibet. His teachings on the Medicine Buddha have been passed down in an unbroken lineage. The Medicine Buddha practices are important in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

According to Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings, there are seven other emanations of the Medicine Buddha, each with his own color and pure land. Sangye Menla, the Medicine Buddha is blue and dwells in pleasing upon seeing. These various Medicine Buddha emanations are of various colors, such as gold, yellow, pink, red, and blue.

Medicine Buddha (Sangye Menla in Tibetan) the manifestation of the healing energy of all Buddhas. He wears monastic robes and sits on a lion throne. The color of his body is dark blue and His left hand holds a bowl filled with nectar and another hand holds a stem of Arura.

By reciting his holy mantra it is a very powerful method and increasing healing powers for oneself and others, but also for overcoming the inner sickness of attachment, hatred, ignorance and the purification of negative physical and mental karma. Thus to meditate on the Medicine Buddha can help decrease physical and mental illness and suffering. 

If we can recite Medicine Buddha mantra every day and is good to do at least 5 malas, this will purify negative karma and will help you never to be reborn in the lower realms. According to Medicine Buddha sutra that even if an animal hears the Medicine Buddha mantra it will never be reborn in the lower realms.

If we don’t purify negative karma, when dying because of negative karma that not been purified, so we will be reborn in the lower realms as a hell being, hungry ghost or animal, and repeatedly without end. We need to purify the negative karma now. If you cannot bear the sickness now, how can we bear the suffering of the lower realms?

Medicine Buddha mantra prevents us from experiencing these related suffering, it is more precious than gold, diamonds or wish-fulfilling jewels all this wealth means nothing because it can’t purify all the negative karma. 

Medicine Buddha mantra is precious because it leaves imprints of the whole path to enlightenment in your mind; it helps you to have realizations of the enlightenment. 

Medicine Buddha mantra is extremely powerful for healing physical illnesses and purification of negative actions and karma. It ceases all the gross and subtle defilements and makes you achieve enlightenment. Besides the benefits you receive from reciting Medicine Buddha mantra and also these are the benefits just from hearing the mantra. 

The Twelve Sacred Vows of the Medicine Buddha upon attaining Enlightenment, according to the Medicine Buddha Sutra:-

1] To illuminate countless realms with his radiance, enabling anyone to become a Buddha just like him. If this does not come to pass, may I not reach enlightenment.

2] May all sentient beings born in my Eastern Lapis Lazuli Pure Land radiate glowing light – a light that dispels all dwelling in darkness. If this does not come to pass, may I not reach enlightenment.

3] Whoever is born in that Eastern Lapis Lazuli Pure Land, may they always enjoy material abundance and be free of all worldly concerns. If this does not come to pass, may I not reach enlightenment.

4] May the beings in that Eastern Lapis Lazuli Pure Land possess a stable vision of the pure view. If this does not come to pass, may I not reach enlightenment.

5] May those born in my Eastern Lapis Lazuli Pure Land pay utmost attention to the purity of their conduct. May the results of negative karma due to previous actions be deferred to the time of most benefit to spiritual growth. If this does not come to pass, may I not reach enlightenment.

6] May they all emanate health and growth in body and mind. May they be relieved of any discomfort or disorder that hinders spiritual growth. If this does not come to pass, may I not reach enlightenment.

7] May my name become a mantra that heals all ailments. May the sound of my name and the image of my nirmanakaya be a balm that eases all pain. May the sound of my name or visualization of my image cure physical troubles and sickness. If this does not come to pass, may I not reach enlightenment.

8] May those women who are undergoing sufferings and tortures and seeking and wish for transformation of their gentle into men have their wishes be fulfilled in the next next rebirth. May that choice lead directly to enlightenment. If this does not come to pass, may I not reach enlightenment.

9] May those who hold wrong views or beliefs regarding Dharma immediately develop right view when they hear my name. As a result, may they engage in Bodhisattva activities. If this does not come to pass, may I not reach enlightenment.

10] May those who live in fear and are easily controlled, who feel threatened with incarceration and punishment, leave behind their fears of catastrophe. If this does not come to pass, may I not reach enlightenment.

11] May those whose subsistence has depended on predation and the killing of other beings have all their material needs met upon hearing my name. May their freedom result in the recognition of their innate Bodhisattva nature. If this does not come to pass, may I not reach enlightenment.

12] Upon hearing my name, may those who suffer from any kind of hunger, thirst, or cold have all their needs provided for. May their food, drink, and clothing free them from mundane concerns so that they may begin to benefit others. If this does not come to pass, may I not reach enlightenment. 

The Twelve Spiritual General Yaksha Protectors with having its owned seven thousands of Yakshas in their retinue swear to Buddha Shakyamuni’s that they shall have recourse to Buddhist Trinity to bear the responsibility to let all beings be benefited by the path of truth and let one who peaches and recite the Medicine Buddha mantra or Sadhara to have abundance with happiness.

Wherever it maybe, be it in the villages, cities, capitals or in isolated place or forests, when one who peaches the Sutra or Sadhara , mantra and cherishes the name of the Medicine Buddha, reverence and makes offering to Medicine Buddha, the twelve spiritual general Yakshas and their retinues shall safeguard and protect the disciples, deliver them completely from all distress and fulfill all wishes.

The Twelve  Dharma Protectors of Medicine Buddha

1.   General Kumbhira.

2.   General Vajra.

3.   General Mihira.

4.   General Andira.

5.   General Majira.

6.   General Shandira.

7.   General Indra.

8.   General Pajra.

9.   General Makura.

10. General Sindura.

11. General Catura.

12. General Vikarala.  

After the great Medicine Buddha made these Bodhisattva vows, he kept these promises throughout all his lifetimes as a Bodhisattva. When we practice the Medicine Buddha, we should remember these commitments and aspire to do the same, for the sake of all living beings. If we do this with love, compassion, and bodhichitta, it will benefit us and all other living beings.

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Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

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