The Buddhist Path to Healing: The Medicine Buddha Retreat

with Venerable Drolma

August 16 – 26, 2021

(Plus Bonus Day for Sponsors on August 27)

No classes on Saturday & Sunday

This is an intermediate ONLINE retreat, suitable for students who have attended one of our 10-day Introduction to Buddhism courses or have taken the full online program, The Buddhist Path of Training the Mind and Going Deeper: The Buddhist Path of Training the Mind.

Normally people think that Medicine Buddha is for healing but it’s not only that! You can use the Medicine Buddha practice for ANY purpose, ANY problem, ANYTHING. The Medicine Buddha practice is so precious. — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

This retreat is the perfect opportunity to spend time developing a relationship with the Medicine Buddha deities and their qualities in ourselves. The retreat will include teachings and meditations on: awareness of suffering and its causes; how to develop compassion for self and others; and visualizing healing energy. The main part of the retreat consists of the Medicine Buddha sadhana practice with mantra recitation sessions for visualizing healing, as well as positive outcomes, for ourselves, others, and the environment.

Teacher

Venerable Tenzin Drolma was born in Chicago, US, in 1961 and became a lifelong learner.  She received her undergraduate degree in religious studies, philosophy and psychology.  She has a graduates degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver and in Buddhist Studies from Maitripa College.  For 25 years she worked in the mental health field. Ven. Drolma full bio.

Pre-requisites

  • Either completed one of Tushita’s 10-day “Introduction to Buddhism” courses (or equivalent).
  • – or –
  • Completed both parts of the Buddhist Path of Training the Mind (Introduction and Going Deeper) online class

 

It is not necessary to have received the initiation of Medicine Buddha to participate in this retreat.  It is most appropriate for people have committed to Buddhism as their lifelong spiritual path and are ready to begin practice with a tantric deity as the focus.

Retreat Schedule

August 16 – 26, 2021

(Plus Bonus Day for Sponsors on August 27)

All times are based in India Standard Time. We recognize that for many of you outside of India, some of the times may not work. It can still be possible to use the recordings for those sessions and join in the live sessions that are convenient for you. If you want to figure out the time in your country click here.

  • Morning Online Class: 7:30 – 9:00 am (Indian Standard Time)
  • Evening Online Class: 5:00 – 6:30 pm (Indian Standard Time) — Live repetition of morning class
  • No classes on Saturday & Sunday.

 

Video recordings of each session will be available for those who cannot make the live session.

The session will be one and a half hour and consist of:

  • 10 minutes – Meditation and Motivation
  • 30 minutes – Teaching
  • 10 minutes – Question and Answer
  • 40 minutes – Medicine Buddha Sadhana

 

Benefits of the Medicine Buddha Practice

  • Our Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, explains: “Any living being who hears the name of Medicine Buddha never gets reborn in the lower realms – that’s the benefit of just hearing the name, the mantra of Medicine Buddha. This is due to the great compassion of the Medicine Buddhas.”
  • It is very powerful for purification – it purifies any broken vows or precepts.
  • It is very powerful for healing sickness.
  • And not only that, it is also very powerful for success.

About the Medicine Buddha Retreat

This retreat is the perfect opportunity to spend time developing a relationship with the Medicine Buddha deities and their qualities in ourselves.  The retreat will include teachings and meditations on:  awareness of suffering and its causes; how to develop compassion for self and others; and visualizing healing energy.  The main part of the retreat consists of the Medicine Buddha sadhana practice with mantra recitation sessions for visualizing healing, as well as positive outcomes, for ourselves, others, and the environment.

Background the Medicine Buddha Practice

To the Bhagavan with great compassion,
Whose name when merely heard dispels the sufferings of the lower realms.
Dispeller of disease and the three poisons,
I prostrate to the Medicine Buddha Lapis Lazuli Light

Many eons ago, seven bodhisattvas strongly prayed for the temporal and ultimate happiness of all sentient being and that their names would become wish-fulfilling in order to heal both the mental and physical sicknesses and diseases of sentient beings.

They vowed that their prayers would be actualized during these degenerate times when the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha are in decline.  When they became enlightened, one of the ten powers of a Buddha is the power of prayer – that means that all the prayers that have been made get fulfilled.  As the Buddha’s holy speech is irrevocable, you can wholly trust in their power to quickly grant blessings to help all sentient beings in these degenerate times.

They are called the Seven Medicine Buddhas.  The main one is ‘Lapis Buddha of Medicine, King of Light’.  Buddha Skakyamuni taught the teachings on the Medicine Buddha, and according to one tradition, is also considered as one of the Medicine Buddhas, and hence the Eight Medicine Buddhas.

Related Books

  • Sutra of the Medicine Buddha – translated under guidance of Dharma Master Hsuan Jung, by
    Minh Thanh & P.D.Leigh (International Buddhist Monastic Institute, 2001)
  • The Healing Buddha – Raoul Birnbaum (Shambhala Publications)
  • Ultimate Healing – Lama Zopa Rinpoche (Wisdom Publications)
  • Teachings From the Medicine Buddha Retreat – Lama Zopa Rinpoche (Lama Yeshe Wisdom
    Archive)
  • Healing Buddha – a practice for the prevention and healing of disease  – translated by Lama Zopa
    Rinpoche (FPMT)

 

One of the reasons why we came up with this course is to be able to raise some funds for Tushita in this difficult time of lockdown, so we detail below the different categories for suggested donations.

Please note that nobody will be turned away due to lack of funds! If you have sincere interest in this specific course and have financial difficulties, please let us know.

Sponsor Level Package

$108 USD (8,000 Indian Rupees)

Includes:

  • 20 live Zoom sessions (including Bonus Day and live repetition classes)
  • Live teachings and discussion with Venerable Drolma
  • Medicine Buddha Sadhana
  • Video recordings of each session
  • Course materials and online resources
  • A butter lamp offered on your behalf & with your special dedication on Lhabab Düchen Day
  • Bonus Day – Question and Answer with Venerable Drolma plus bonus meditation

 

Supporter Level Package

$80 USD (6,000 Indian Rupees)

Includes:

  • 18 live Zoom sessions (including live repetition classes)
  • Live teachings and discussion with Venerable Drolma 
  • Medicine Buddha Saddhana
  • Video recordings of each session
  • Course materials and online resources

 

Well-Wisher Level Package

$40 USD (3,000 Indian Rupees)

Includes:

  • 18 sessions of recorded video of teachings and discussion with Venerable Drolma (including repetition classes)
  • Medicine Buddha Sadhana
  • Course materials and online resources

 

Register

Register by filling out our online form

Register Online

Please make sure you have read the information on this page first.

Tushita is always happy for any donation, any time. Nothing is too small. Please email us at [email protected] to make a separate contribution.