TWELVE EXTRAORDINARY ASPIRATIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF SENTIENT BEINGS The first of the twelve aspirations made by the Medicine Buddha while still a bodhisattva is, “In the future, when I attain perfect awakening and become a buddha, may my utterly luminous body illuminate innumerable worlds, and may all the beings who see it come to…
MEDICINE BUDDHA BRINGS PROTECTION WHEN YOU RECEIVE INSTRUCTION in dharma, the motivation with which you do so is extremely important. Recognize that the instructions you have received are a basis for your practice of dharma, and that your practice of dharma is of great benefit. This benefit is not limited to you alone or only…
OFFERING THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE PRODUCES GREAT MERIT Therefore it says in the text, “By making these offerings to the deities, may we complete the two accumulations.” The two accumulations are the conceptual accumulation of merit and the nonconceptual accumulation of wisdom. The making of the offerings themselves gathers or completes the conceptual accumulation of merit;…
