Practicing with Yakushi Nyorai, The Medicine Buddha

My teacher’s temple has been around for hundreds of years. Before it was a Soto-shu temple it was a Shingon temple in Aichi Prefecture. Inside the temple’s main hall there is a statue of Yakushi Nyorai, or the Medicine Buddha. This is unlike most Soto Zen temples that have a statue or image of Shakyamuni Buddha seated in zazen. Yakushi Nyorai Is depicted with right hand raised in the mudra (-in) of Semu-in, or Abhaya-mudra, the fear reducing Mudra. Yakushi’s left hand is in holding a jar of medicine to relieve the suffering and afflictions of mental and physical illness. This is Yakushi beckoning us to come close, don’t be afraid, and take some of this medicine of Dharma that will relieve your impediments to enlightenment. It is popular in Shingon Buddhism to chant the Yakushi Nyorai mantra “ On Koro Koro sendari matougi sow aka” meaning “Om heal, heal Candâli Mâtàngi svâhâ “.

when being one with and finding refuge in Yakushi Nyorai, who’s vow is to alleviate the suffering of physical, mental, and emotional pain in all beings with the brilliant light of the Dharma medicine, chanting this mantra is of great benefit. We are able to focus our heart, mind, and samadhi on the vows of Yakushi and take them on as our own too. In this time of great anxiety and fear, our physical, mental, and emotional health are important to our lives as well as to our ability to help and calm others. Please don’t hesitate to add the Yakushi Nyorai mantra to your daily chanting, zazen, and spiritual practices. On Koro Koro sendari matougi sowaka”.

Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Tathagata