Happy Birthday to Moonlight Bodhisattva

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival in China and it is also the birthday for Bodhisattva Moonlight (Candraprabha, 月光菩萨), who is often seen with Bodhisattva Sunlight (Sūryaprabha, 日光菩萨), as the major assistants to the Medicine Buddha (Bhaiṣajyaguru) who reside in the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli (Vaiḍūryanirbhāsa, 东方琉璃世界).

The Medicine Buddha is the Buddha of healing and medicine in Mahayana Buddhism. He is described as a doctor who cures suffering using the medicine of the Buddha’s teachings. The Medicine Buddha is usually depicted holding a medicine jar in his left hand. If you visit a Mahayana temple, you will usually see the trinity of buddhas with Shakyamuni Buddha in the centre, Amitābha Buddha to the left and Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha to the right.

The Sutra of the Medicine Buddha’s Fundamental Vows (药师琉璃光如来功德本愿经) detailed how in the past Medicine Buddha made twelve great vows when he was a Bodhisattva, if one practises in accordance with the sutra, one can also attain rebirth in Medicine Buddha’s Pure Land, although the sutra did not specify exactly how one can attain rebirth in the Medicine Buddha’s Pure Land. The twelve vows made by Medicine Buddha did not include the promise to come and receive sentient beings – unlike Amitābha Buddha’s fundamental vows – so to attain rebirth in Medicine Buddha’s Pure Land is not as easy as to attain rebirth in Amitābha Buddha’s Pure Land. Rather, the sutra discusses the benefits and merit one will obtain in this lifetime by being mindful of the name of the Medicine Buddha. It is said that if one recites the name of the Medicine Buddha (in full, “Bhaiṣajyaguru-vaidūrya-prabha-rāja”), and also always remembers the Medicine Buddha Dharani, while cultivating good and making offerings to the Medicine Buddha, one can also attain rebirth in the Medicine Buddha’s Pure Land.

Interestingly, in the Medicine Buddha Sutra, the Medicine Buddha also vows to assist beings in attaining rebirth in Amitābha Buddha’s Western Pure Land. If one has a karmic connection with the Medicine Buddha and hears His name, but vows to attain rebirth in Amitābha Buddha’s Pure Land, although this person may lack faith/confidence in his rebirth, the Medicine Buddha will send 8 bodhisattvas to accompany this person at the time of death and guide him to the Western Pure Land (provided that this person has taken the 8 precepts). You can read about the Medicine Buddha Sutra here.

In Mahayana Buddhism, Shakyamuni Buddha told us there are countless worlds, countless Pure Lands (Buddha’s fields) and countless Buddhas in the ten directions (see: the Avatamsaka Sutra).

However, Shakyamuni Buddha specifically recommends that we attain rebirth in Amitābha Buddha’s Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in almost all the major Mahayana sutras. This is because Amitābha Buddha’s Pure Land is the easiest to attain for all beings. Once one attains rebirth in Amitābha Buddha’s Pure Land, one can freely travel to all the worlds, all the Pure Lands in the ten directions, and one can finally realise Buddhahood. That’s why Amitābha Buddha’s Pure Land is praised by all the Buddhas of the ten directions, and all the Buddhas encouraged us to maintain mindfulness of the name of Amitābha Buddha so that we may be reborn in His Pure Land.

PS: To celebrate Bodhisattva Moonlight’s birthday, we also hold a 7-Day Nianfo Online Retreat in our Nianfo Zoom, you are welcome to join us anytime. Amituofo.

Namo Amitabha Buddha!

Namo Amituofo!