【玳瑚師父佛學論】 《大醫王佛號濟衆生》
Salvation By The Name Of The Supreme Healer
(English version below)
今天，陽曆2015年11月11日，農曆九月三十日，是眾所熟悉的「南無藥師琉璃光王佛」的佛辰。所有學佛的弟子都曉得這尊如來。這尊佛和東方阿閦佛是一樣的，祇是名稱有別。這尊佛，大家都知道，就是「大醫王」。
祂的十二宏願中，有一願是願祂能以八萬四千種藥救治衆生的八萬四千種病。這八萬四千種病並不是我們有形所看到的病，當中還包括我們心裡面的病，精神上的病，比如說焦慮不安、嗔恨、憂鬱、煩躁、燥慮和心中的傷痛等等。這些都是病。
因此在這天，我們可以先沐浴，換上清淨的衣服。如果可以的話，再齋戒。所謂的齋戒可以說過午才食，或這一天完全地茹素。這茹素包括如果你在家煮素食，你要很慎重地確定你的鍋和器皿絕對沒有沾過葷的，這樣才好。
如果妳沒有供奉這尊如來，你可以將祂的法相卡捧在你手中，端正地坐在你客廳或書房的椅子上，然後恭恭敬敬地恭誦祂的洪名 ，「南無藥師琉璃光王佛」，21遍、49遍、108遍或 1080遍。 然後靜坐5分鐘，純想祂的聖容，之後就迴向給你欲想迴向的對象，你過往的祖先、過往的親人、友人、親戚，甚至你本身身體上有一些病痛，都可以迴向。
當然，絕對不是因為今天是「南無藥師琉璃光王佛」的佛辰，你今天才來唸。不是的，祇是每當佛菩薩的佛辰時，我們修法功德是百倍的，但這也要看你的誠心而論。
天地的根基在於一個誠字，因此我們華人有句話： 「精誠所至，金石為開」。吾祝賀大家能夠圓成你的願望，也祝大家佛緣增長，智慧增長，早日離苦得樂，阿彌陀佛。
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Today, 11th November 2015, 30th Day of 9th Lunar month, is the holy birthday of Medicine Buddha, whom I am sure most of us are familiar with. All learning Buddhists would know this Buddha, also known as the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha. He is identical to the Aksobhya Buddha of the Eastern Paradise, and only known by a different name. The Medicine Buddha is also regarded as the Supreme Healer.
In the twelve noble vows He made, one of the vows was to heal all the 84,000 illnesses of the sentient beings, with 84,000 medicine. These 84,000 illnesses are not just diseases that we can see physically, but also those that affect us mentally and spiritually, like anxiety disorder, hatred, depression, over-worrying, impatience, bipolar disorder, grief, etc. These are all illnesses.
Therefore, on this day, we can take a bath and change into clean clothing. If possible, you can go on a vegetarian diet for the day, or opt to consume food only after noon. If you are preparing vegetarian meals at home, take care not to use any crockery and utensils that have been in contact with meat.
If you do not worship the Medicine Buddha at home, you can hold a pictorial card with the illustration of the Medicine Buddha, sit in an upright and proper posture in your living room or study room, and respectfully recite His Buddha Name, "Namo Yao Shi Liu Li Guang Wang Fo" (南無藥師琉璃光王佛), 21 times, 49 times, 108 times or 1080 times. After which, you can sit for 5 minutes in meditative silence and visualize the sagely appearance of the Medicine Buddha. At the end of your prayer, you may dedicate the merits to your ancestors, deceased family members, friends, relatives or even to your own health condition.
Of course, it is not only today, on the Birthday of the Medicine Buddha, which you recite his Name. It is just that on the holy birthdays of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the merits generated from cultivation will be hundredfold. But please remember all these depend on your level of faith and sincerity.
The foundation of Heaven and Earth lies in your faith. That is why we have a Chinese saying that goes "The utmost sincerity can crack open even metal and stone ".
I wish everyone fulfillment of your dreams, and may your affinity with the Buddha increase. May your wisdom grow by leaps and bound, and achieve liberation from your sufferings very soon. Amitabha.
www.masterdaihu.com/salvation-by-the-name-of-the-supreme-healer/
Photo credit: Medicine Buddha Hill
