Appendix 2: Benefits of Reciting the Seven Medicine Buddhas’ Names

Renowned Glorious King of Excellent Signs

Through the force of hearing the conqueror’s name,
Expressing it, remembering, prostrating and offering,
May all sentient beings such as ourselves be freed
From epidemics, execution, criminals and spirits;
Have faculties fully complete; have the continuum of suffering and negativities cut;
Not fall to lower realms; and experience the happiness of humans and gods.
With hunger, thirst and poverty pacified, may there be wealth.
Without torments of body such as bindings and beatings;
Without harm of tigers, lions and snakes; with conflict pacified;
Endowed with loving minds and relieved from fear of flood as well,
May we pass to fearless bliss. And when we pass away from this life,
May we be born from a lotus in that buddha field, qualities complete,
Become a vessel for transmitting the teachings of conquerors such as Renowned Glorious King of Excellent Signs,
And cause them delight.

King of Melodious Sound

Through the force of hearing the conqueror’s name,
Expressing it, remembering, prostrating and offering,
For all sentient beings such as ourselves
May the distracted flourish in the Dharma;
Have wealth and goods of human and gods;
Without torment at conception, be always born human;
Never be separated from bodhicitta; increase in virtuous Dharma;
Purify obscurations; and attain the happiness of humans and gods.
May we be freed from being separated from the spiritual guide,
From dark ages, spirit harm, death and enemies,
And from the dangers of isolated places.
May we have enthusiasm for making offerings and performing ritual services.
May lesser beings have samadhi, mindfulness, strength
The dharani of non-forgetfulness, and attain supreme wisdom.
May tormenting fires be cooled.
And when we pass away from this life,
May we be born from a lotus in that buddha field, qualities complete,
Become a vessel for transmitting the teachings of conquerors such as King of Melodious Sound,
And cause them delight.

Stainless Excellent Gold

Through the force of hearing the conqueror’s name,
Expressing it, remembering, prostrating and offering,
For all sentient beings such as ourselves
May the short-lived gain longevity, the poor, full wealth;
May combatants come to have loving minds.
May we not be without training and fall to the lower realms
But be bound by our vows and never without bodhicitta.
And when we pass away from this life,
May we be born from a lotus in that buddha field, qualities complete,
Become a vessel for transmitting the teachings of conquerors such as Stainless Excellent Gold,
And cause them delight.

Supreme Glory Free from Sorrow

Through the force of hearing the conqueror’s name,
Expressing it, remembering, prostrating and offering,
For all sentient beings such as ourselves
May sorrow and the like always be pacified, and life be long and happy.
May the conquerors’ light increase bliss and joy in the hells.
May we have brightness, beauty and wealth, unharmed by spirits;
May we have love for each other; and may there be no disease.
And when we pass away from this life,
May we be born from a lotus in that buddha field, qualities complete,
Become a vessel for transmitting the teachings of conquerors such as Supreme Glory Free from Sorrow,
And cause them delight.

Melodious Ocean of Proclaimed Dharma

Through the force of hearing the conqueror’s name,
Expressing it, remembering, prostrating and offering,
For all sentient beings such as ourselves
May we always have perfect view and faith,
Hear the sound of Dharma and be enriched with bodhicitta.
For the sake of resources may we give up negativities;
May wealth increase.
May we abide in love, have long lives and be content.
And when we pass away from this life,
May we be born from a lotus in that buddha field, qualities complete,
Become a vessel for transmitting the teachings of conquerors such as Melodious Ocean of Proclaimed Dharma,
And cause them delight.

Delightful King of Clear Knowing

Through the force of hearing the conqueror’s name,
Expressing it, remembering, prostrating and offering,
For all sentient beings such as ourselves
May the distracted be free of malice and rich in goods.
May those on evil paths to lower realms attain the ten virtues.
May those controlled by others gain perfect independence,
And all have long life, hear the names and be virtuous.
And when we pass away from this life,
May we be born from a lotus in that buddha field, qualities complete,
Become a vessel for transmitting the teachings of conquerors such as Delightful King of Clear Knowing,
And cause them delight.

Medicine Guru, King of Doctors

Through the force of hearing the conqueror’s name,
Expressing it, remembering, prostrating and offering,
For all sentient beings such as ourselves
May each and every sentient being such as ourselves
All become, like you, graced with marks and signs.
May the light dispelling darkness, the enjoyment of wisdom and skillful means be inexhaustible.
May those attracted to mistaken and lesser paths enter Mahayana paths,
And all be beautified by their vows.
May we be free from pain caused by immorality,
Be complete in faculties and without disease and have abundant goods.
May those disillusioned with the weakest conditions always have powerful faculties,
And may we be freed from Mara’s noose and per verse viewpoints.
May those tormented by kings gain bliss, and those who,
Out of hunger, support themselves through negativity
Be satisfied with food received in accordance with the Dharma.
May hardships of heat and cold be pacified and all good wishes be fulfilled,
Endowed with morality that pleases the aryas, may we be liberated.
And when we pass away from this life,
May we be born from a lotus in that buddha field, qualities complete,
Become a vessel for transmitting the teachings of conquerors such as Medicine Guru, King of Doctors,
And cause them delight.

This is an excerpt from The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel: The Concise Essence Sutra Ritual of Bhagavan Medicine Buddha, composed by Panchen Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen and translated into English by David Molk.