The Healing Power of the Medicine Buddha Mantra
I feel in love with Tibetan mantras on my first trip to the HimÄlayas in 1997. I trekked (in plastic sandals, silly 19-year-old me!) to Namche Bazaar then to the Tyangboche monastery. There I was blessed with an audience with the 80+ year old Rinpoche Tyangboche and his gaze, his voice, cut straight through the fuzz in my chaotic mind.
I felt, for the first time, the clear still infinity that is the result of a long-time sound-based meditation practice. It inspired me from then on to make inner knowledge my priority (over other "normal" goals like partnership, parenting, wealth building, etc.). I sensed then, surrounded by the snowy peaks of Ama Dabla and Mount Everest, that I would not be disappointed to have a foundation of inner peace for whatever else my life may bring.
This Medicine Buddha mantra, recorded by dear old musician friends in Montana Joan Zen, mantra brings me back to the pure intention of that time. I hope you feel the healing vibes too!
Tibetan Buddhist Chant The Medicine Buddha Mantra arranged and recorded in Seeley Lake, MT in August 2024, sung by Joan Zen with instrumentation by JZ and Jason Hicks. Mixed and mastered by Jason Hicks. Original animation by Elie Cronan. As devoted students of Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche and Namchak Khen-Rinpoche, this dharma song is our humble offering as support for the health and longevity for all our Namchak and Ewam lineage lamas, our sangha, and all beings everywhere. May all beings benefit.
Tayata Om Bekandze Bekandze Maha Bekandze Radza Samungate Soha
In a world that often feels chaotic, finding peace and healing is a universal desire. For centuries, the Medicine Buddha mantra has been a beacon of hope for those seeking deep inner healing, emotional balance, and physical wellness. Whether you’re an experienced yogi or a chant lover exploring the therapeutic potential of sound, this mantra, steeped in ancient wisdom, offers profound healing benefits.
In this blog post, we will dive into the significance of the Medicine Buddha mantra, how to properly chant it, and why it holds such transformative power in the realm of mantra, Nada Yoga, and sound healing. You’ll also discover practical steps for incorporating this mantra into your sound therapy practice, and how this sacred vibration can be a powerful mantra friend on your yoga teacher training journey.
Note: My personal specialty is NOT Tibetan mantras, so I have employed assistance in writing some parts of this article.
What Is the Medicine Buddha Mantra?
The Medicine Buddha mantra, also known as the Bhaisajyaguru Mantra, is a prayer of healing. It invokes the blessings of the Medicine Buddha, a revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism known for his healing powers. The mantra is traditionally chanted to heal physical ailments, bring peace to the mind, and restore balance to one’s emotional and spiritual well-being.
How Do You Use the Medicine Buddha Mantra?
The Medicine Buddha mantra can be integrated into your daily meditation or sound healing practice. Chanting it with mindfulness and intention creates a space for deep relaxation and healing, amplifying the benefits of sound therapy. The mantra is typically used in seated meditation, walking meditation, or as part of a NÄda Yoga (the yoga of sound) practice.
Here’s how you can use it:
- Find a Quiet Space: Whether you're alone or in a group setting, begin by creating a serene environment. Close your eyes, take deep breaths, and center yourself.
- Chant Slowly and Mindfully: Begin chanting the mantra, feeling each syllable resonate through your body. The repetition allows the vibrations to penetrate deeper into your consciousness.
- Visualize Healing: As you chant, visualize the Medicine Buddha's healing energy enveloping you or the person you are chanting for. Imagine radiant light spreading healing throughout the body.
- Repeat for 108 Times: Chant the mantra for as long as you have time. 5-10 minutes is long enough to feel the benefits. However, for optimal results - to allow the sounds to penetrate through multiple layers of your being - it is recommended to repeat the mantra 108 times. 108 is an auspicious number in many spiritual traditions.
What Language Is the Medicine Buddha Mantra?
The Medicine Buddha mantra is chanted in Sanskrit, one of the most ancient and sacred languages in the world. Sanskrit is the root of many mantras used in sound yoga and sound healing because its phonetic composition is believed to hold vibrational power. When chanting in Sanskrit, each sound has a specific healing frequency that resonates with different aspects of the body, mind, and spirit.
What Is the Medicine Buddha Mantra Good For?
The Medicine Buddha mantra is used to heal both physical and emotional ailments. It’s believed to purify the mind of negative emotions such as anger, jealousy, and ignorance. Additionally, many practitioners chant this mantra when they or their loved ones are facing physical illnesses, as it is said to have the power to speed up recovery, calm anxiety, and restore harmony to the body.
Here are some of the key benefits:
- Physical Healing: Helps alleviate physical pain and speeds up recovery from illness.
- Emotional Balance: Calms the mind, reduces stress, and alleviates emotional turbulence.
- Spiritual Well-being: Purifies negative karmic energy and promotes spiritual growth.
Medicine Buddha Mantra Proper Spelling and Pronunciation
The Medicine Buddha mantra is typically chanted as:
“Tayata Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha Bekanze Radza Samudgate Soha”
For effective results, proper pronunciation is important. Here’s a simplified guide:
- Tayata: Meaning "it is like this," a form of affirmation.
- Om: The universal sound, a sacred syllable that aligns the body with the vibration of the universe.
- Bekanze: Means to "eliminate pain."
- Maha Bekanze: Refers to the great pain being eliminated.
- Radza Samudgate: Translates to the "King of healing."
- Soha: A form of "may it be," or the sealing of the prayer.
The mantra's rhythmic flow is an essential part of its healing properties, and listening to a proper recording such as Joan Zen's above can help you learn its intonation and pacing!
NOTE: Since it is not a Sanskrit mantra (and therefore not my specialty) I have not attempted to offer proper transliteration of the Tibetan.
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