Material: bronze casting. (The bottom can hold holy objects)

Size: Height 8 cm

Description:

Medicine Buddha (Tibetan: སངས་རྒྱས་སྨན་བླ།, Sangye Menla), revered as "Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata" in Tibetan Buddhism, is the Buddha who symbolizes healing, compassion and wisdom. His significance and origin in Tibetan Buddhism can be understood from the following aspects:

### 1. The significance of Medicine Buddha

1. **Healing and health**: Medicine Buddha is famous for his great vows, especially for curing the physical and mental illnesses of sentient beings. He represents the power to eliminate illness, prolong life and purify karma. Tibetan Buddhists believe that by praying to Medicine Buddha, they can obtain physical health, mental peace and remove obstacles caused by karma.

2. **Compassion and wisdom**: The Lapis Lazuli Light of Medicine Buddha symbolizes the pure light of wisdom, which can illuminate ignorance and help sentient beings escape from suffering. His twelve great vows emphasize saving sentient beings and providing material and spiritual abundance, reflecting boundless compassion.

3. **Pure Land Faith**: Medicine Buddha presides over the Eastern Pure Land "Lapis Lazuli Pure Land", an ideal world full of light and purity. Tibetan Buddhists believe that by practicing the Medicine Buddha Dharma with piety, one can be reborn in this Pure Land and attain liberation.

4. **Eliminating disasters**: The practice of Medicine Buddha is believed to eliminate various disasters, including diseases, natural disasters, wars, etc., especially in the practice of Tibetan Buddhism, Medicine Buddha Dharma is often used for praying, curing diseases and prolonging life.

### 2. Origin of Medicine Buddha

1. **Scripture Basis**:

- The belief in Medicine Buddha mainly comes from the "Medicine Buddha Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata Original Vow Merit Sutra" (abbreviated as "Medicine Buddha Sutra"). This sutra records the twelve great vows made by Medicine Buddha before he attained Buddhahood, promising to save sentient beings, cure illness and pain, and grant happiness.

- In Tibetan Buddhism, the Medicine Buddha Sutra is widely recited and integrated into the rituals and practices of Tibetan Buddhism.

2. **The development of Tibetan Buddhism**:

- The worship of Medicine Buddha is given equal importance in Tibetan Buddhism as other Buddhas (such as Sakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha), especially in Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug.

- Tibetan Buddhism combines the practice of Medicine Buddha with the tantric rituals to form a unique practice of Medicine Buddha, such as Medicine Buddha initiation and Medicine Buddha fire offering, which emphasizes the blessing through mantras, visualization and offerings.

- The image of Medicine Buddha is often seen in thangkas, Buddha statues and temple murals. It is usually blue (symbolizing Lapis Lazuli Light), holding herbs (aluba) in the right hand and a bowl (containing nectar) in the left hand, sitting on a lotus seat.

3. **Cultural influence**:

- The belief in Medicine Buddha is closely related to Tibetan medicine. Tibetan medicine believes that physical illness is related to karma, emotions and environment, and the practice of Medicine Buddha is regarded as an important way to harmonize the body and mind and restore balance.

- In the daily practice of Tibetan Buddhism, the mantra of Medicine Buddha ("Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha Bekanze Lhaza Sangmo Gadye Soha") is widely chanted to pray for health and longevity.

III. The actual practice of Medicine Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism

- **Practice method**: Tibetan Buddhists pray for blessings by chanting the mantra of Medicine Buddha, visualizing the image of Medicine Buddha, and offering to Medicine Buddha mandala. Medicine Buddha Dharma ceremonies are usually held on specific dates in the Tibetan calendar or when suffering from illness.

- **Eight Medicine Buddhas**: In Tibetan Buddhism, Medicine Buddha is often worshipped together with the "Eight Medicine Buddhas" (including seven dependent Buddhas), symbolizing complete healing power.