Medicine Buddha / Menla – The Supreme Healer
Painted Medicine Buddha Statue: Noble One, you should think of yourself as someone who is sick,
Of the Dharma as the remedy,
Of the Buddha as a skillful doctor,
And of your diligent practice as the way to recovery.
The Medicine Buddha / Menla, or Bhaisajyaguru, is the Buddha of Healing. Meditating on the Medicine Buddha / Menla is considered to be a powerful method for increasing healing powers, allowing practitioners to alleviate their own sufferings as well as those of others. Through his boundless compassion and generosity, Bhaisajyaguru helps sincere seekers overcome physical illness and infirmity. But even more importantly, the Buddha is the skillful doctor who heals the great disease afflicting all sentient beings. By providing the Dharma as a profound antidote to the poisons of attachment, hatred and ignorance, he lifts the veil of delusion and points the way to freedom.
Gestures and Attributes
The Medicine Buddha / Menla is depicted with his right hand extended downward, palm open, with thumb and index finger touching. This posture is known as Varada Mudra, or the gesture of granting wishes. This mudra symbolizes Bhaisajyaguru’s kindness, charity and compassion toward all beings. In the same hand he lightly grasps a sprig of the Myrobalan plant, an important healing herb in Ayurvedic medicine. It is believed that this plant has the power not only to heal the body, but also to free one from the inner sicknesses of attachment, hatred and ignorance. His left hand lies in his lap with palm upward in the gesture of meditation (Dhyana Mudra), representing the eradication of all sickness and suffering through the realization of absolute truth. In the same hand he holds the traditional begging bowl of an ordained Buddhist monk. The bowl contains a sacred medicinal nectar that cures all ills, hindrances and obstacles.
About this Painted Medicine Buddha Statue
This sculpture of Medicine Buddha Menla is a true marvel, crafted with unparalleled skill and devotion. Fashioned from copper alloy using the esteemed lost wax method, it is adorned with resplendent 24-karat gold and meticulously hand-painted to yield a lustrous finish. The intricate carvings, harmoniously blended colors, and regal posture imbue it with an aura of beauty and vitality. Seated majestically upon a lotus throne, the Buddha exudes grace and dignity, his serene smile and slightly bowed head evoking sublime meditation. The masterful craftsmanship of the Shakya clan artisans in Patan, Nepal, is evident in every detail, from the delicately draped monastic robes to the warm and lifelike features carved with exquisite precision. As heirs to a time-honored tradition, these craftsmen have upheld the legacy of sacred artistry, passing down their refined metalworking techniques through generations. This sculpture stands as a testament to their craftsmanship and reverence for the divine, destined to inspire awe and contemplation for generations to come
