Hand Made Silver Plated Copper Alloy in Oxidation Finish 8" Medicine Buddha Statue

Medicine Buddha / Menlha Statue

 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 his 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 fine sculpture is a charming portrayal of Medicine Buddha / Bhaisajyaguru / Menlha, finely sculpted from copper alloy and adorned with a silver plated finish that has been submitted to an oxidation process, yielding a rich and sensuous quality.

The Buddha sits gracefully in meditation upon a lotus throne, expressing the calm majesty of one who has mastered himself. With his head slightly inclined, he seems to smile with a secret inner joy, prompting feelings of encouragement and happiness in the observer. This serene expression radiates a sense of profound peace and spiritual attainment.

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, and the fine metalworking techniques they employ have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.

Each element of this statue, from the intricate folds of the Buddha's robes to the delicate lotus petals upon which he sits, has been imbued with a sense of reverence and devotion. The silver plating and oxidation finish lend the sculpture a luminous quality, evoking the enlightened presence of Bhaisajyaguru and inviting the viewer to bask in the radiance of his boundless compassion and healing power.

This fine work of art stands as a testament to the enduring skill, artistry, and spiritual legacy of the Shakya clan, whose masterpieces continue to inspire and guide practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism. As one gazes upon this magnificent sculpture, one is drawn into the serene and benevolent presence of the Medicine Buddha, whose blessings and guidance offer solace, healing, and the promise of a life free from suffering.