Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata's Fundamental Vows and Merits Sutra

**The Medicine Sutra**, full title **Bhaiṣajyaguru-vaiḍūryaprabha-rāja-sūtra** (Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata's Fundamental Vows and Merits Sutra), is collected in the Sutra Collection of the *Taishō Tripiṭaka*. It is also known as the *Sutra of the Spiritual Mantras for the Twelve Spirit Generals to Benefit Sentient Beings and Fulfill Vows*. This sutra describes how Medicine Buddha, while practicing the Bodhisattva path in past lives, made twelve great vows to benefit and guide sentient beings, focusing on relief from physical illness, suffering, and calamity in the present life, as well as the attainment of happiness and fortune.

Author/Translator: Xuanzang A000294 (translator)

Completion Time:

[Taishō Tripiṭaka]: 0650 ~ 0650 (Tang Dynasty (Yonghui Year 1, A.D. 650))

[Goryeo Tripiṭaka]: ~ 650

[CBETA]: 650 ~ 650 (Tang Dynasty)

Location of Completion: [Goryeo Tripiṭaka]: Great Ci'en Temple PL000000042410

## Explanation of the Title

Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, also known as Medicine Buddha, is the Great Physician King who relieves the sufferings of the world. "Medicine Master" refers to the Buddha as the supreme physician or healer. "Lapis Lazuli" (Vaidūrya) is a rare and precious gem.

"Fundamental Vows and Merits": "Vows" refer to aspirations. Fundamental vows are the great vows made by a Bodhisattva. The merits arising from these fundamental vows are the "Fundamental Vows and Merits."

## Transmission and Translation

This sutra was translated into Chinese four times:

- Eastern Jin: Translated by Śrīmitra as *Consecration Sutra on Eliminating Sins and Being Delivered from Birth and Death*, included in the *Consecration Great Spirit Mantra Sutra*. (Some scholars speculate this is the *Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Sutra* translated by Master Huijian).

- Sui Dynasty: Translated by Dharmagupta as the *Medicine Master Tathagata's Fundamental Vows Sutra*.

- Tang Dynasty: Translated by Xuanzang as *Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata's Fundamental Vows and Merits Sutra*. This version originally did not contain the spiritual mantra or the specific names of the eight Bodhisattvas; these were later added by others based on Śrīmitra's version. This is the most widely circulated version.

- Tang Dynasty: Translated by Yijing as *Sutra of the Fundamental Vows and Merits of the Seven Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagatas*. Its content is broader, covering seven Buddha pure lands rather than just one.

There are two Tibetan translations, one corresponding to Xuanzang's and the other to Yijing's. In 1931, Sanskrit manuscripts of the *Medicine Sutra* were discovered in a stupa near Gilgit.

## Content

At the request of Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva, the Buddha explains the merits of Medicine Buddha of the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli World and details the twelve great vows made by Medicine Buddha: the vow of equality between Buddhas and sentient beings, the vow of awakening business/affairs, the vow of inexhaustible resources, the vow of establishing the Great Way, the vow of pure conduct and precepts, the vow of complete sense organs, the vow of physical and mental health, the vow of transforming from female to male, the vow of returning to the correct path, the vow of liberation from shackles, the vow of obtaining fine food and drink, and the vow of obtaining fine clothing and tools.

These "Twelve Great Vows" are the extensive vows practiced by Medicine Buddha in his causal stage. Medicine Buddha emphasizes seeking peace and happiness for sentient beings in the present life through practices such as reciting the Buddha's name, holding mantras, and making offerings.

## Commentaries

Commentaries include those by Taixian (Silla), Jingting (Qing), Lingyao (Qing), and modern masters such as Taixu and Yinshun. Numerous rituals for recitation and contemplation have also been transmitted.