The Medicine Buddha Mantra
The Medicine Buddha mantra, also known as the Bhaishajyaguru mantra, is a traditional Buddhist prayer for healing and wellness. Here is the mantra in its original Sanskrit form:
Tayata Om
Bekandze Bekandze
Maha Bekandze Bekandze
Radza Samudgate Soha
This mantra can be broken down into parts for easier understanding:
Tayata: This means "like this" or "thus."
Om: A sacred syllable often placed at the beginning of mantras, representing the essence of the ultimate reality or consciousness.
Bekandze Bekandze: This term is interpreted as "eliminating pain" or "healing. It is repeated for emphasis.
Maha Bekandze: "Great eliminator of pain" or "great healer."
Radza: "King," signifying the supreme or highest level.
Samudgate: Refers to the journey or transcending, often interpreted as "gone beyond" or "transcendence."
Soha: "So be it" or "may it be so," a closing word similar to "amen."
Chanting or meditating on this mantra is believed to invoke the healing energies of the Medicine Buddha, which reside within ourselves, promoting both physical and mental well-being.
As you chant, envision yourself or the recipient of your meditation thriving in a healthy, radiant state from within. Maintain this visualization throughout your practice. Imagining the joy of a happy child can be particularly helpful.
You can also visualize a vibrant blue light enveloping yourself or the recipient of your meditation. The Medicine Buddha is associated with Lapis Lazuli, which is a prized blue crystal.
The color blue holds significant importance in the context of the Medicine Buddha in Buddhist tradition:
Healing: Blue is traditionally associated with healing. The Medicine Buddha is often depicted as having a blue body, which signifies his healing power. The blue color represents the capacity to cure physical illnesses, mental disturbances, and spiritual ailments.
Purity and Clarity: Blue symbolizes the vast, pure, and clear nature of the sky and water. This association with clarity and purity underscores the Medicine Buddha's role in clearing away delusions and purifying the mind.
Tranquility and Calmness: The color blue is often associated with tranquility, calmness, and peace. This reflects the serene and compassionate nature of the Medicine Buddha, who provides comfort and solace to those who are suffering.
Wisdom and Insight: In many cultures, blue is linked with wisdom and depth of understanding. The Medicine Buddha embodies profound wisdom, offering teachings that lead to enlightenment and insight into the true nature of reality. Interestingly, in the Hindu Yogic tradition, the Third Eye Chakra (Intuition and Wisdom) is also associated with the color blue.
The color blue in the depiction of the Medicine Buddha symbolizes healing, purity, tranquility, and wisdom, reinforcing his role as a source of holistic well-being and enlightenment.
In the following class, we start with the Medicine Buddha Mantra. Then, we move our bodies gently to encourage hip mobility, core and lower body strength, wrist mobility, and low-back tension release. We take slow, somatic movements as well as Yin Yoga poses such as Sphinx and Supported Bridge, holding each for 3 to 4 minutes.
The purpose of this class is to respect and honor our bodies just as they are right now, holding them with compassion and love. We wrap up with a Deep Breathing Lab and a Mindfulness Meditation session inspired by Vietnamese monk and teacher (Thay) Thich Nhat Hanh.
From beginning to end, this practice is meant to tap into our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Enjoy!
I thank you deeply for embarking on this holistic journey with me week after week.
Monica
