When you do the Medicine Buddha practice for an animal or person who is sick
or dying, visualize the seven Medicine Buddhas (Renowned Glory of Excellent
Signs; King of Melodious Sound, Brilliant Radiance of Ability; King of Immaculate
Excellent Gold, Radiant Jewel Who Fulfills All His Vows; King of Supreme Glory
Who Frees from All Suffering; Melodious Ocean of Proclaimed Dharma; King of
Clear Light, He Who Totally Delights in Supreme Wisdom of the Ocean of Dharma;
Medicine Guru, King of Lapis Light) one on top of the other, above the animal
or person. First visualize that nectars are emitted from the first Buddha and
purify the being of all their negative karmas and obscurations. Recite the name
of each Medicine Buddha seven times, then allow it to absorb into the each Medicine
Buddha in turn.
With the final Medicine Buddha, recite however many mantras you wish and again
visualize strong purification. Think that the animal or person has been completely
purified; no negative karma at all exists in their mental continuum, and their
body becomes as calm and clear as crystal.
The Medicine Buddha then melts into light, absorbs within the animal or person,
and blesses their body, speech, and mind so that they become one with the Medicine
Buddha. Their mind is transformed into Medicine Buddha’s holy mind. Meditate
strongly on that oneness.
You can think that the beams are also emitted to all other sentient beings,
especially those who are sick with cancer, AIDS, and other diseases, and purify
them. Or you can visualize the seven Medicine Buddhas above the crown of each
sentient being and purify them in that way. Focus particularly on the person
you are praying for, but think that there are also seven Medicine Buddhas above
the crown of every other sentient being.
Also, if the person is dying, visualize that a tube-like beam is emitted from
Medicine Buddha’s heart and becomes a channel inside the person. The channel
is shaped like an umbrella handle, hollow inside but with no hole at the end,
and extends to just below the navel. Red beams shaped like a hook are sent from
Medicine Buddha’s heart and hook the person’s consciousness, which
is visualized the size of a mustard seed, but in the nature of white light.
It is not concrete or heavy, but is extremely light. The red hook-like beams
hooked the consciousness, and it flies up through the channel to Medicine Buddha’s
heart. After being absorbed into Medicine Buddha’s heart, the consciousness
emerges from the heart to take place in a lotus in the pure realm of Medicine
Buddha. The person then receives teachings from or predictions about their enlightenment
from the Medicine Buddha.
If you have strong compassion and stable concentration during this meditation,
you might help to prevent the person being born in the lower realms.