8.25" Medicine/Menla Buddha Oxidized Copper Alloy Gold Plated Statue from Patan, Nepal

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Medicine Buddha - The Supreme Healer

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, or Bhaisajyaguru, is the Buddha of Healing. Meditating on the Medicine Buddha 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 Buddha 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 Sculpture

This sculpture is a beautiful depiction of the Medicine Buddha. Finely sculpted from copper alloy with lost wax method, the statue has been submitted to an oxidation process with golden paint to yield a rich and sensuous finish, the figure sits regally upon a single lotus throne, expressing a graceful and dignified presence. Bhaisajyaguru's monastic robes, elegantly detailed around the edges, drape softly over his shoulder with delicate folding in the cloth. The Buddha's features are also beautifully carved, imbuing the statue with warmth and character. This sculpture was individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal by master artisans of the Shakya clan who are considered among the best in the world. These craftsmen are the modern heirs to a centuries-old tradition of creating sacred art for use in temples and monasteries. The fine metalworking techniques have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.