The Medicine Buddha Mantra

Slightly enigmatic is the medicine Buddha Bhaiṣajyaguru, who cuts a figure from the early Buddhist days.

Though his origins are obscure, sutras about the medicine Buddha might have been based on descriptions of the historical Buddha as a physician who cures the ills of the world.

Bhaiṣajyarāja is a Bodhisattva described in the Saddharma Puṇḍarīka or White Lotus Sūtra who immolates himself as an offering to the Buddha.

Depicted as deep blue in colour, the Bodhisattva is dressed in the robes of a Buddhist monk, holding his begging bowl in his left hand while his right hand makes the varada mudra where varada means "granting wishes, conferring a boon, ready to fulfil requests or answer prayers".

"Sometimes, particularly in East Asian iconography, the begging bowl is replaced by a medicine jar. In Tibetan images, a myrobalan plant, thought to be a cure-all, grows out of his bowl."

The Medicine Buddha mantra is:

auṃ bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajye mahābhaiṣajya-samudgate svāhā
om beh ka dze-yah beh ka dze-yah ma ha beh ka dze-yah la dza sah mo kyah deh sowa ha

---

Reference:

Medicine Buddha: http://www.visiblemantra.org/medicine-buddha.html

Medicine Buddha Magical Thinking in Tibetan Buddhism

"The Medicine Buddha mantra is held to be extremely powerful for healing of physical illnesses and purification of negative karma. One form of practice based on the Medicine Buddha is done when one is stricken by disease. The patient is to recite the long Medicine Buddha mantra 108 times over a glass of water. The water is now believed to be blessed by the power of the mantra and the blessing of the Medicine Buddha himself, and the patient is to drink the water. This practice is then repeated each day until the illness is cured." &smash; Wikipedia entry for Medicine Buddha.

This only works via the placebo effect after a lot of Buddhist mindful practice including hours of meditation and receiving tantric rituals regarding the Buddha i.e. the long process involved in becoming one with the Buddha.

It does not work if the disciple has doubts about the practice, but since she has already found her riot Vajra master, all doubt has been removed.

Nothing in the text quoted is that magical.  For with belief anything is possible.

BHAISAJYA GURU BUDDHA

These are the six vows of Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, the Medicine Buddha.

In essence, this Buddha spiritual offers medicine for spiritual ignorance and worries.


1. I vow that my body shall shine as beams of brilliant light on this infinite and boundless world, showering on all beings, getting rid of their ignorance and worries with my teachings. May all beings be like me, with a perfect status and character, upright mind and soul, and finally attaining enlightenment like the Buddha.
2. I vow that my body be like crystal, pure and flawless, radiating rays of splendid light to every corner, brightening up and enlightening all beings with wisdom. With the blessings of compassion, may all beings strengthen their spiritual power and physical energy, so that they could fulfill their dreams in the right track.
3. I vow that I shall grant by means of boundless wisdom, all beings with the inexhaustible things that they require, and relieving them from all pains and guilt resulting from materialistic desires. Although clothing, food, accommodation and transport are essentials, it should be utilised wisely as well. Besides self-consumption, the remaining should be generously shared with the community so that all could live harmoniously together.
4. I vow to lead those who have gone astray back to the path of righteousness. Let them be corrected and returned to the Buddha way for enlightenment.
5. I vow that I shall enable all sentient beings to observe precepts for spiritual purity and moral conduct. Should there be any relapse or violation, they shall be guided for repentance. Provided they truly regret their wrong-doings, and vow for a change with constant prayers and strong faith in the Buddha, they could receive the rays of forgiveness, recover their lost moral and purity.
6. I vow that all beings who are physically disabled or sick in all aspects be blessed with good health, both physically and mentally. All who pays homage to Buddha faithfully will be blessed. "