Eastern Taiwan Medicine Buddha Guide: The Medicine Buddha (Sanskrit: भैषज्यगुरु, Romanized: Bhaiṣajyaguru), fully translated in the Sutra of the Vows and Merits of the Medicine Buddha Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata and the Sutra of the Buddha’s Preaching on the Removal of Sins, Death, and Liberation through Anointment, is known as the Medicine Buddha Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata or Medicine Buddha Lapis Lazuli Radiance King Buddha (or Tathagata) in some scriptures, directly translated from Sanskrit as Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabhā-rājāya (Bhaisajya Guru Vaidurya Prabha Raja). The term “King” corresponds to the Sanskrit “rājā”, but is often omitted in translations. The characters “琉” and “璃” are used interchangeably. Commonly referred to in Chinese as the Great Medicine King Buddha who Dispels Disasters and Prolongs Life, the Medicine Buddha is depicted with a transparent body, blue in color like lapis lazuli, and emits pure, gentle light illuminating the world. Therefore, “Lapis Lazuli Radiance” is his meritorious name. His realm, known as the Pure Lapis Lazuli World, is filled with lapis lazuli pure light.
