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Sangye Menla or Bhaisajya.guru
Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche has said that a mantra is essentially an elaboration on the deity's name, and that any mantra is the shortest possible form of the sadhana. The Sanskrit mantra of Medicine Buddha is: Tayata, Om, Bhaishaye Bhaishaye Maha-Bhaishaye Raja Samudgate, Svaha. or, pronounced the Tibetan way: Tayata, Om, bekandzeh, bekandzeh maha-bekandzeh, radza samungateh. Soha. 'May all beings benefit from the sublime love and power of Sangye Menla' is often given as the meaning but it is not a literal translation. Since the practice of Medicine Buddha is considered a Sutrayana practice (i.e., based mainly on scripture) no empowerment is necessary, but it is good to attend one or to ask for one when you have an opportunity. Khenpo Karthar has said that the practice of Sangye Menla also has been found beneficial in cases of mental illness. And it is said that even hearing the name Sangye Menla only once has benefits for subsequent rebirth, for the Medicine Buddha made 12 vows describing the various ways he can help sentient beings with their sufferings. As red Amitabha is the Buddha of the Western Pure Land, blue Medicine Buddha is often considered the Buddha of the Eastern Pure Land. His color is lapis lazuli blue, the hue of the dark, gold-threaded stone called lapis for short -- lapis is Latin for stone -- has been associated with healing at least since the time of Sumerian goddess (>Mt. Sumeru = Meru) Inanna (Ishtar) who descended to the Land of the Dead to revive her brother/lover, and then returned. Interestingly, ashi- is the Sumerian root for heal; in Tibetan amchi is a healer. Notice that the Buddha is not teaching in this image. He is holding in his lap a bowl of lapis lazuli [In Japan, the bowl is said to be of iron] in which is an arura or myrobalan plum. His right hand displays a spray of arura.
Other Forms
According to the Sakya "Wish-fulfilling Gem" tradition, the seven surrounding him are: 1. Skt.: Buddha Suparikirti'tanama'shri, Tibetan spelling: Sangs-rGyas mTshan legs-par yongs bsgrags
dpal, pron.
Tshen Lek -- Excellent Name, golden.
The eighth petal supports the dharma book that, according to Khenpo Karthar, actually sings the words it contains.
Orgyen Menla is the special form of Guru Padmasambhava manifesting as the Medicine Buddha.
Long life DeitiesSince the precious human form is beneficial for the attainment of enlightenment for the sake of all beings, and progress is easier to achieve in a continuous lifetime, then many different deities can be called upon to assist us in prolonging our lives. White Tara is one of those associated with longevity. Dutsi or tiny pills are produced and empowered by a qualified tantric Buddhist practitioner in a ritual practice (sadhana) in which Her activity is invoked. Another long-life deity is Usnishavijaya who embodies the life force of the Buddha. Amitayus (Tsepameh) is the longevity form of Amitabha where he is depicted holding a vase of nectar. In Tibet, people also invoke the 5 Tseringma, "Goddesses of Longevity." The Tibetan Medical TraditionMedicine is one of five traditional Tibetan sciences. It is called gSoba Rigpa or the science of healing. To the Tibetan doctor, disease is a sign of an imbalance of mind and body. The obscurations or mental poisons of attachment, hatred and delusion are considered contributing factors to disease. Therefore, spiritual practices including the recitation of mantras (as above) are considered a vital aspect of treatment. The Gyu Shi [rGud-bzhi] are four tantras that constitute Tibet's oldest medical text. Originally in Sanskrit, this fourth century (CE) text is considered a compendium of the wisdom of the Medicine Buddha. Under the auspices of Sangye Gyatso, a 17th-century Tibetan regent, the compendium of medical treatment known as The Blue Beryl (Tib: vai-dur-ya ngon-po) was produced. The original tangkas that illustrate The Blue Beryl are in Tibet, but accurate replicas made in the traditional way involving the grinding of precious stones to make the pigments have been on display at Tibet House in NY (July 2004.) Nature of Diagnosis in the Tibetan System The Tibetan system is somewhat reminiscent of European
medicine during the Renaissance, and it shares many characteristics of both
Taoist and Ayurvedic medicine. In this system, individuals are first classified according to three
categories depending upon predominating "humours," and the mainly herbal remedies
are prescribed in conjunction with appropriate diet. vata, or air which is similar to the Tibetan humor, lung
(rLung] The late Dr. Tenzin Choedrak explained that although the two systems are similar in many ways, some aspects of Tibetan medicine set it apart: As a means to understanding the movement of fluids in the body, the Tibetan method incorporates the astrological system using the twelve animal signs and five elements. According to Dr. Lobsang Rapgay, a trained Tibetan physician who is now a licensed clinical psychologist and director of UCLA’s Behavioral Medicine Clinic, since the Gyu Shi, Tibetan medicine continued to evolve.
Traditional RemediesWater and any other purifying substances used in rituals, ie. that have been empowered by visualization and mantra, are considered efficacious as treatments. Remedies combine ingredients from plants, trees, resins, soil and rocks but 95% is derived from herbs that are increasingly difficult to obtain. Also, the formulation of the various remedies that may include rare components such as gold, silver and tiny amounts of such potential poisons as mercury is dependent on the phases of the moon. There are seven kinds of 'precious pill' or rinchen rilpo. Some herbal preparations as they appear in a treatise on the alchemy of long life by Jamgon Kongtrul the Great as quoted in Beyer's Cult of Tara:
The description is only an example. "Please don't try this at home" as they say on TV. * We are not certain of the plants *Similar plants are not identical plants *Some of the substances are known to be poisonous or harmful, eg. iron filings *Ask your lama *Discuss it with your medical doctor.
TrainingMen-Tsee Khang is the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute re-established in 1961 in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. This most highly respected source for Tibetan medicine and medical training outside of Tibet occupies a complex on the hill below the Dalai Lama’s monastery. The rigorous five-year program at the Institute is offered only in Tibetan.
Buddhism and astrology are essential to the curriculum, and professors continually stress the importance
of compassion, empathy and kindness. It is followed by a further 2
years of internship and specialization. Though Western medicine is preferred in emergencies, Tibetan medical practitioners are relied upon for the treatment of chronic ailments such as rheumatism, arthritis, sinus problems and diabetes. It is also known to provide relief from the pain of late-stage cancer and AIDS. This is similar to the place of acupuncture in the array of techniques available to patients in the West.
practice: The popular Nyingma sadhana, "A Stream of Lapis Lazuli" practiced by many denominations is a terma of the anutara yoga level. Blue Beryl: Rather than a lapis lazuli, the English phrase used in this instance refers to an aquamarine. Ayurvedic: the name given to the Indian traditional medical system that forms the basis of the Tibetan one; its name refers to the title of the ancient treatise or Veda. ~ image of Sangye Menla http://www.dharma-haven.org/thrangu-medicine-buddha.htm
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The mantra, or even the name of the Medicine Buddha
(Skt: Bhaisajyaguru, Tib: Sangye
Menla, Chin: Yaoshi-fo, Jap:Yakushi) is beneficial. 
Ven.
Ayang Rinpoche (Drikung Kagyu) is an authority on
life-death issues.