Medicine Buddha and Related Festivals and Days of Offering in Tibetan Buddhism

In Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana), Medicine Buddha (Tibetan: སངས་ོརྒྱས་སྨན་བླ། Sangye Menla, full name Medicine Buddha) is one of the most important deities, ranking alongside Shakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha as one of the three great Buddhas of medicine. His main vows are to "eliminate the suffering of sentient beings, prolong life, increase blessings and wisdom, and ward off disasters," and he is especially regarded as the "King of Healers" who can heal both body and mind.

 

1. Major Festivals of Medicine Buddha

 

The most important and grandest festivals for Medicine Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism are:

 

****The Seven-Day Medicine Buddha Ceremony or Medicine Buddha Festival**

 

- From the first to the eighth day of the Tibetan New Year (or the fourth to the tenth day, depending on the local monasteries)

 

- The most important day is usually the fifth or eighth day of the Tibetan New Year, considered the "descent day" or "enlightenment day" of Medicine Buddha.

 

- During this period, major monasteries (such as Chakpori Hill in Lhasa, Kumbum Monastery in Qinghai, and some Tibetan monasteries on Mount Wutai) hold grand Medicine Buddha ceremonies, reciting the Medicine Buddha Sutra and mantra, releasing animals, distributing medicine, and performing longevity empowerments.

 

- A particularly famous event: the "Displaying the Giant Buddha" at Chakpori Hill (unfolding a huge Medicine Buddha Thangka), attracting hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

 

Another important day:

 

- **The eighth day of the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar**: Respectfully considered the birthday of Medicine Buddha (emphasized in some areas). - **Tibetan Calendar April 15th:** Considered by some Nyingma and Kagyu schools as the "Turning the Wheel of Dharma Day" (Preaching Day) of Medicine Buddha.

 

2. Monthly "Universal Offering Day" (Medicine Buddha Day) Tibetan Buddhism divides each lunar month into four specific deity practice days, among which:

 

**The 8th day of each lunar month** → is "Medicine Buddha Day" (Healing Light Day, one of the Universal Offering Days)

 

- This day is considered the monthly offering day for Medicine Buddha, and is most suitable for practicing the Medicine Buddha Dharma.

 

- On this day, Tibetan monasteries and lay practitioners will:

 

- Recite the *Medicine Buddha Sutra*

 

- Recite the Medicine Buddha mantra: Om Bekandze Bekandze Maha Bekandze Radza Samudgate Soha

 

- Make offerings to the Eight Medicine Buddhas (Medicine Buddha and his seven retinue Buddhas)

 

- Perform smoke offerings, butter lamp offerings, release animals, and donate medicine, etc.

 

- Many Tibetan medicine hospitals, Thangka painters, and Tibetan medical colleges also make special offerings to the Medicine Buddha on the eighth day of each lunar month.

 

(Other monthly offering days: 10th - Padmasambhava, 15th - Amitabha, 30th - Dharma Protector Day)

 

3. The Origin and Stories of the Medicine Buddha Belief The Medicine Buddha belief originated from the *Medicine Buddha Sutra* (translated by Yijing Sanzang in the Tang Dynasty) of Han Chinese Buddhism. It was later introduced to Tibet and became widely popular during the 8th-9th centuries during the time of Padmasambhava and Trisong Detsen.

 

Important lineages unique to Tibetan Buddhism:

 

- Padmasambhava unearthed many Medicine Buddha practices (such as the "Medicine Buddha Sukhavati Aspiration Prayer") from Tibetan terma (hidden treasures).

 

- By the 11th and 12th centuries, Medicine Buddha practices flourished across the Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug schools.

 

- Especially during the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama, Medicine Buddha practices were combined with Tibetan medicine, leading to the establishment of the "Menlangzipa" (Medical Academy) at Chakpori Hill in Lhasa, making Medicine Buddha the guardian deity of Tibetan medicine.

 

Important Legend: According to Tibetan legend, when Songtsen Gampo suffered from severe headaches, Princess Wencheng brought him a statue of Medicine Buddha, and he was cured. Therefore, Chakpori Hill Temple was built next to the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa to enshrine Medicine Buddha, thus elevating Medicine Buddha to an extremely high status in Tibet.

 

4. The Profound Influence of Medicine Buddha on Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan Culture

 

1. **The Fundamental Guardian Buddha of Tibetan Medicine**

All Tibetan hospitals and medical colleges enshrine Medicine Buddha. The Tibetan medical classic, the *Four Medical Tantras*, begins with praise of Medicine Buddha. Tibetan medicine believes that diseases originate from the three poisons (greed, anger, and ignorance), and can only be ultimately cured through the blessings of Medicine Buddha.

 

2. **The Main Deity of Longevity Practices**

Almost all longevity empowerments in Tibetan Buddhism (such as Amitabha Buddha and the Three Longevity Deities) must include Medicine Buddha. Many high-ranking monks have extended their lives through retreats dedicated to Medicine Buddha practice (for example, the 16th Karmapa lived to 99, which is said to be related to his practice of Medicine Buddha).

 

3. **Disaster Relief and Epidemic Prevention**

Historically, during every plague, earthquake, smallpox, and other disaster, large-scale Medicine Buddha ceremonies are held in Tibet. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Tibetan monasteries worldwide also held large-scale Medicine Buddha disaster relief ceremonies.

 

4. **The Eight Medicine Buddha Tradition**

 

The unique Tibetan Buddhist system of the "Eight Medicine Buddhas" (Central Medicine Buddha, the King of Lapis Lazuli Light, plus the Seven Eastern Buddhas) has become an important part of many Dzogchen and Mahamudra preliminary practices.

 

In summary, in Tibetan Buddhism, the Medicine Buddha is not only a Buddha who "heals," but also a physician who "cures ignorance," representing the Vajrayana's unique concept of "eliminating karma in this very life and attaining Buddhahood through longevity." The Medicine Buddha Offering Day on the eighth day of each lunar month, and the Medicine Buddha Dharma Assembly around the fifth day of the first lunar month, are the most important and widespread Medicine Buddha festivals and practice opportunities in Tibet.