Join an Online Medicine Buddha Puja to Receive Healing and Prayers for Yourself and Loved Ones

Medicine Buddha painted thankga, www.norbulinkga.org.

One way to receive support during the pandemic for yourself or a loved one is to participate in a Medicine Buddha Puja livestream and share the names of loved ones for prayers. Anyone can join in the livestreams - no need to be Buddhist.

I was recently reminded of this when Sravasti Abbey announced they have begun offering a monthly Medicine Buddha Puja online.

The Benefits of the Medicine Buddha Puja

Sravasti Abbey

Sravasi Abbey explained the Medicine Buddha Puja this way, "Have you recently lost a loved one? Do you long for support in your grieving process? Are you or relatives or friends challenged with illness? We are here to support you—through pujas and prayers via Zoom once a month.

"A puja is a Buddhist ceremony that involves visualization, meditation, making offerings to holy beings, and mantra recitations to receive inspiration and support. A puja generally focuses on a specific deity — a manifestation of enlightenment such as Tara, Avalokiteshvara, or Medicine Buddha. Pujas support our Dharma practice, accumulate merit (positive karma), and help to remove obstacles and other negative circumstances for ourselves and others. 

"Each monthly puja will begin with the Medicine Buddha Puja, which is supportive for health related issues, and also for healing the world and restoring peace and harmony. Medicine Buddha also helps to overcome the inner sicknesses of attachment, anger, and ignorance, and support us to generate and enhance compassion, love, and bodhicitta."

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa taught on the Medicine Buddha in 2014. "The traditional healing methods of Tibet, he said, are closely related to the Buddha’s teachings in several ways. One is the investigation of causes, which are divided into the immediate and long-term. The immediate causes and conditions pertain to the body; for example, the elements have deteriorated or bacteria have invaded. However, if we go beyond attempts to cure a particular infection or operate on a tumor, we can discover the long-term causes. These are related to the mind and mental states, such as anger and attachment. All disease is a result of many interdependent causes and conditions, so it’s important to analyze the complex of these relationships.

"These days, we deal with a lot of pressures in our lives, which bring us stress. Numbers of people have difficulties with their mental and emotional states. Temporary relief is not enough here. To bring a more sustainable, deeper level of cure, we ourselves need to find ways of allowing our minds to be peaceful. The mind gives medicine to the mind; we need to use a mental medicine for our mental afflictions. A good way to begin is to make a connection with the Medicine Buddha, the King of Deep Blue light ..."

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught about the benefits of doing the Medicine Buddha Puja at a Dharma center, "Medicine Buddha puja is excellent to prevent and help with natural disasters involving fire, wind, water, and air, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. It also helps with world peace, stopping war and famine, disease and torture, poverty and sickness. It increases happiness in the area of the center, also peace in the United States, and the rest of the world.

" ... The idea is that everyone can participate. Anyone who would like to experience peace or wonders what to do for peace can join in. It should be advertised well, even for non-Buddhists, who know someone who has died, or is sick, even for people who have relationship problems, family problems, job problems."

Medicine Buddha, www.men-tsee-khang.org.

Dharma Centers Offering Medicine Buddha Pujas on Sundays

Yangsi Rinpoche

Maitripa College

Portland, Oregon

Every Sunday at 11:00 AM PST

Watch the livestream on the Maitripa College YouTube channel.

Request prayers in advance of the puja for loved ones and their names will be read out loud during the livestream.

Read more about the Medicine Buddha Pujas led by Yangsi Rinpoche on www.maitripa.org and access the Medicine Buddha Puja text Yangsi Rinpoche is using for the pujas.

Venerable Samten and staff members

Land of Medicine Buddha

Soquel, California

Every Sunday at 2:00 PM PT

Watch the livestream on the Land of Medicine Buddha Facebook page

Request prayers so your loved ones receive dedication of the merit at the end of the puja. 

Read more about the Medicine Buddha Pujas at Land of Medicine Buddha on www.landofmedicinebuddha.org.

Read an explanation of how the Medicine Buddha Puja is done at Land of Medicine Buddha on www.landofmedicinebuddha.org.

Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin and Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) Monastics

KTD is His Holiness the Karmapa's monastic seat in North America

Woodstock, New York

Every Sunday at 5:00 PM PST

Watch the livestream on the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra YouTube channel.

I don't see a way to request prayers for the Medicine Buddha Puja but you could explore the sponsorship webpage and contact KTD with any questions.

Read more about the Medicine Buddha Pujas at KTD on www.kagyu.org.

Sravasti Abbey Monastics

Newport, Washington

One Sunday per month at 6:00 PM PST

The first was held on July 26 and the next will be held on August 23, 2020.

Join the Medicine Buddha Puja on Zoom.

Register in advance and submit requests for prayers. Each session ends with listening to each others’ optional final reflections and sharing aspirations for yourself and loved ones.

Read more about the Medicine Buddha Pujas at Sravasti Abbey on www.sravastiabbey.org and access the Medicine Buddha Puja text used by Sravasti Abbey for the pujas.

Medicine Buddha, www.thrangumonastery.org.

Medicine Buddha

"Bhaiṣajyaguru (Sanskrit: भैषज्यगुरु, Chinese: 藥師佛, Japanese: 薬師仏, Korean: 약사불, Standard Tibetan: སངས་རྒྱས་སྨན་བླ), formally Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabhā-rāja ("Medicine Master and King of Lapis Lazuli Light"; Chinese: 藥師琉璃光(王)如來, Japanese: 薬師瑠璃光如来, Korean: 약사유리광여래), is the Buddha of healing and medicine in Mahāyāna Buddhism. Commonly referred to as the "Medicine Buddha," he is described as a doctor who cures dukkha (suffering) using the medicine of his teachings.

"Bhaiṣajyaguru is described in the eponymous Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabhā-rāja Sūtra, commonly called the Medicine Buddha Sutra, as a bodhisattva who made twelve great vows. On achieving Buddhahood, he became the Buddha of the eastern pure land of Vaiḍūryanirbhāsa "Pure Lapis Lazuli." There, he is attended to by two bodhisattvas symbolizing the light of the sun and the light of the moon respectively."

Read more about Medicine Buddha on Wikipedia.

Win a Medicine Buddha Painted Thankga

Norbulinkga Institute in Himachal Pradesh, India, is giving away a Medicine Buddha painted thankga. Every order placed through the Norbulinkga Institute online shop until the 16th August will automatically be entered to win.

The Office of His Eminence Ling Rinpoche shared an important update about Norbulinkga Institute on July 31, 2020, on Ling Rinpoche's Facebook page:

''Dear Friends, 

"We hope and pray that you all are doing as well as possible during this unprecedented time.

"On behalf of H.E. Ling Rinpoche, we are writing to express our support for an important organization, Norbulingka Institute, and invite you to join H.E. Ling Rinpoche in supporting this worthy cause. Norbulingka Institute was founded 25 years ago by Kelsang Yeshi and Kim Yeshi under the direction of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, who served as Chairperson from its inception until 2015. It is due to their hard work and tireless efforts over the last 25 years that the Institute has been able to flourish and benefit the Tibetan community.

"Norbulingka Institute is a leader in the preservation of Tibetan cultural heritage through its exceptional artwork and craftsmanship. It also provides unconditional humanitarian services and skills-training to newly arrived, exiled Tibetans. Since its founding, Norbulingka has employed nearly 1,400 Tibetan artists and staff. Currently there are 366 employees, trainees and students dependent upon Norbulingka for their livelihoods.

"Since accepting the Chairperson position in 2016, H.E. Ling Rinpoche has been impressed with Norbulingka’s continued operational efficiency as a 100% self-sustaining, not-for-profit organization. Now, with travel to Dharamsala drastically diminished due to the global COVID-19 pandemic crisis, Norbulingka is presented with significant financial challenges as commerce has drawn to a halt.

"During these days of great anxiety and hardship, please consider this a good opportunity to help others if you are able, through your support of Norbulingka Institute in any way, such as purchasing Norbulingka products online, donating, or raising awareness by sharing this information with others.

"For a 10% discount on online purchases use the promotional code: GREENTARA

"To learn more about Norbulingka, please visit norbulingka.org.

"Please visit https://norbulingka.org/blogs/news-from-dharamsala/support-norbulingka for our Press Release.

https://norbulingka.org/pages/donate
https://www.facebook.com/NorbulingkaInstitute/
https://www.instagram.com/norbulingkainstitute/

"We encourage you to subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates, for more information about how you can participate in Norbulingka Institute’s legacy.

"Your support of the Tibetan heritage is most appreciated at this time.

"With thanks from Yongzin Lingtsang Labrang - the Office of His Eminence Ling Rinpoche
www.lingrinpoche.info"

Join Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha Pujas During Covid-19

The deity Vajrasattva, lywa.org

Maitripa College president Yangsi Rinpoche is helping people be of benefit during the Covid-19 pandemic by leading Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha pujas for purification and healing the world.

Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha Practice Group

Watch Yangsi Rinpoche do the Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha pujas on YouTube livestream each week and follow along from home.

Maitripa College's website notes that these livestreamed practice sessions are open to all.

Download the free Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha puja materials.

Subscribe to the Maitripa College YouTube channel and request notifications to be reminded when Yangsi Rinpoche goes live. Here's how to do that if you need some help.

Practice Schedule

Thursdays at 5:00 PM PT—Vajrasattva puja

Sundays at 11:00 AM PT—Medicine Buddha puja

Afterwards the videos are archived on the Maitripa College YouTube channel.

Q&A With Yangsi Rinpoche

Q: Is it disrespectful to listen to sutras or mantras while I am in the kitchen or going for a walk?

A: Yangsi Rinpoche said:

"In the sutras sometimes just touching the sutras also lots of merit. So it's totally fine [to listen to sutras and mantras in the kitchen.] Of course if you can sit down and practice that's great but it's not necessary. You can hear the teaching, you can hear the practice it's also OK.

"Basically, the mind, if you keep your intention 'I'd really like to hear the Medicine Buddha prayer' the intention 'I really want to hear' ... I'm pretty much sure the intention is the very Dharma. Otherwise just put for distraction and entertainment, there are a million things online.

"So intention is quite obviously clear, so 'action' it has flexibility. It's not necessary that you have to stay still, and the Buddha Vairocana posture is not necessary. Fundamentally obviously you have the intention for the devotion, for the practice, and so I feel it's OK. If you feel it's not OK then you can sit down and do it. (Laughter.)

Vajrasattva: Purifying our Past Mistakes

Yangsi Rinpoche explained the purpose of the Vajrasattva practice:

"Thank you very much for joining Vajrasattva practice this Thursday night. You know, this Vajrasattva practice is how to keep karmic hygiene. These days we have to keep doing hand washing and cleaning. The Vajrasattva practice is something like that: karmic hygiene to keep karma clean, pure, and healed.

"All of the challenges in our individual lives and the things that we are facing right now, there is a surface condition and of course a deeper level in karmic connection. So this Vajrasattva practice will really be intended to do deeper karmic purification and ... merit accumulation."

Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained the purpose of the practice:

" ... Vajrasattva practice is so important generally, and especially nowadays in the world, when there is not only global warming, but many other problems. There are so many other dangers—of war and sicknesses, cancer, and so many people whom you know are dying. There are so many sicknesses and other conditions for dying. This Vajrasattva practice and other purification practices are the ultimate answer ..."

Medicine Buddha: Dedicating our Merit to Others and Healing the World

Yangsi Rinpoche explained the purpose of the Medicine Buddha practice:

"Basically with the Medicine Buddha practice, one thing we should learn is that we have so many elements (the prayer and the dedication) so I feel like the eight Medicine Buddhas are like an eight Lama Zopa Rinpoche kind of personality. Just imagine you have eight Lama Zopa Rinpoche personalities, all of the time doing dedication, prayer, and inspirational.

"So basically in this difficult time, what we're facing right now, we of course need to make the best of things, but also at a deep level in our heart we need to be making some prayers and dedications. And not get caught with the impatient thinking 'Oh when is this going to end?' I would say with this practice, particularly, make a strong prayer and dedication. That's the main thing." 

"... Vajrasattva is karmic purification and Medicine Buddha is pretty much strong prayer and dedication. Directing whatever merit we accumulated becomes very important."

The deity Medicine Buddha, Spit-Fire, CC BY 2.0.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained the purpose of the practice:

"Medicine Buddha puja is excellent to prevent and help with natural disasters involving fire, wind, water, and air, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. It also helps with world peace, stopping war and famine, disease and torture, poverty and sickness. It increases happiness in the area of the center [where the practice is done], also peace in the United States, and the rest of the world."

Prayer Requests

Names given for prayers are read out loud at the end of each practice session. Anyone can submit name(s) for the prayer list by completing the Maitripa College online prayer request form. 

Yangsi Rinpoche

Yangsi Rinpoche is the president of Maitripa College, a Buddhist college in Portland, OR, that awards Masters of Arts degrees in Buddhist Studies and Master of Divinity degrees. Born in Nepal, he was recognized as the reincarnation of Geshe Ngawang Gendun and enthroned at Kopan Monastery in January 1975. Yangsi Rinpoche received his Geshe Lharampa degree from Sera Jey Monastery and then completed his studies at Gyume Tantric College.

Additional Medicine Buddha Practice Groups

Jamyang Buddhist Centre London 

Tuesdays at 8:00-9:30 AM PT—Tara puja

Tuesdays at 9:45-10:45 AM PT—Medicine Buddha puja

Livestreaming on the Jamyang Buddhist Centre London Facebook page

The Guhyasamaja Center

Tuesdays at 4:30-5:30 PM PT - Medicine Buddha Puja

Livestreaming on Zoom. Check the calendar for details and prayer list submission details.

Land of Medicine Buddha

Sundays at 2:30-3:30PM PT - Medicine Buddha Puja

Livestreaming on the Land of Medicine Buddha Facebook page