He was worshipped as the dispenser of spiritual medicine that could cure spiritual, psychological and physical disease. Among the 12 vows the Medicine Buddha has taken is that of healing just by the invocation of his name or the thought of him.

From November 25-28, 2004, the largest gathering of devotees to participate in this year's Grand Puja of Healing for the year will be held at the Chempaka Buddhist Lodge here in Petaling Jaya. The organiser of the puja, the United Karma Kagyu Federation (UKKF), the newest (and only Tibetan group) associate member of the Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) says that the puja will be a grand occasion as it will not only be celebrated in one location, but will also embark on a nationwide road show.

"It is the grandest puja of healing ever organized in recent times, and we intend to let as many devotees as possible to particpate in generating good merits. That is why the nationwide roadshow is organized in conjunction with the main event," says UKKF President, John Fam.

The V.V 9th Thrangu Rinpoche has said that a mantra is essentially an elaboration on the deity's name, and that any mantra is essentially the shortest possible form of the sadhana.

The Mantra of Medicine Buddha is: Tayatha Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha Bekanze Raza Samudgate Soha. Chanting of this Mantra and visualising the Medicine Buddha with devotion, faith and confidence has indeed proven to bring benefits and relieve sufferings to sentient beings.

But this Buddha is not worshipped simply for his healing powers alone; he is the form of the Buddha nature that we aspire to realise in ourselves. Through the practice of meditation on the Medicine Buddha, one can generate enormous healing powers for ourselves and for the healing of others.

Perhaps nothing better illustrates the union of religion and medicine in Buddhism than the fact that the greatest of Buddhist philosopher saints were also great physicians who wrote important medical works. According to Tibetans, all medical knowledge has a sacred origin and is ascribed to the wisdom of the Buddhas.

As Red Amitabha Buddha is the Buddha of the Western Pure Land, the Blue Lapis Lazuli Medicine Buddha is often considered the Buddha of the Eastern Pure Land. He is also said to have revealed the teachings embodied in the sacred texts known as the Five Medical Tantras. The whole of Buddhist medicine is said to have derived from this sacred scripture.

In this Tantra is stated that the utmost powers of healing lie within ourselves and an ordinary person has the capacity for extraordinary healing. This can only be gained by recognizing the suffering of others as our own, by suffering as they are suffering, by feeling as one with others. In this aspect, the reciting and visualisation of Medicine Buddha can definitely help in unveiling the compassionate nature of our primordial mind.

The most important aspect of Medicine Buddha healing practice is therefore, to have strong selfless compassion for others and to have fervent trust and confidence in the healing powers of the Medicine Buddha.

There will be many opportunities for sponsors to participate in the puja. In this Saha world of the degenerate times, if one is unable to practise, one can also generate and accumulate inconceivable merits by making offerings and creating conducive events to support the spread of the Buddhadharma.

The merits and benefits of sponsoring and supporting a Buddhadharma event is indeed immeasurable. Some of the worldly benefits are 1) Peace and prosperity in the country , 2)
Removing all obstacles , 3) Prevent sicknesses and diseases, 4) Success in all undertakings, 5) Improving luck and fortune, 6) Prevent untimely death, 7) Planting the seed of enlightenment and 8) Increase in Wisdom.

For more information on this puja, please visit the following website:
http://www.bodhivision.net/medpuja