Prescription given from the Medicine Buddha

Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island continued on their second consecutive “Medicine Buddha Dharma Function” on October 28 presided by Venerable Abbess Manshin with 70 Buddhist devotees in the chanting of Medicine Buddha Sutra and the reading of “A Prayer to the Medicine Buddha” written by the founder of the FGS Buddhist Order Venerable Master Hsing Yun. The pious devotees brought their venerated hearts to offer to the Buddha making the Buddha Hall a dignified venue with offering of lights that not only lit up the place, but also the inner hearts of everyone.

After the chanting and prayers, Venerable Abbess Manshin explained what medicine are given from the Medicine Buddha, (1) Compassion and Generosity, (2) Tolerant and Peace, (3) Homage to the Triple Gems, (4) Merits and Wisdom, (5) Six Paramitas, (6) Knowing of Gratitude, (7) Learning the Dharma, (8) Reforming Calmness, (9) Returning to the Origins, (10) Change in a Right Way, (11) Convenience as a Good Skill, (12) Not moved by Desires, (13) Letting go with a Heart of Purity. The Abbess then expressed the 12 vows of the Medicine Buddha which the first 5 vows bring out “compassions” and the remaining 7 vows are to help “sufferings”. Moreover, the Abbess encouraged everyone into walking the path to Buddhahood using this prescription given from the Medicine Buddha.