| The point of departure and core of the Buddha’s | | | | medicine Buddhas has a curative effect. |
| thought is his teaching on suffering. Human suffering | | | | |
| must be eliminated. The Buddha can be seen as a | | | | About Avalokiteshvara: |
| physician because he diagnosed suffering and | | | | The generic name of the most popular bodhisattva |
| developed his teaching on liberation, or dharma, as | | | | is Avalokiteshvara, the “Merciful Lord Who Looks |
| medicine to escape from the cycle of rebirth. He also | | | | on Humanity Filled with Compassion”. He has |
| saw himself as a physician, namely one who | | | | many names and appearances. The number of heads |
| immediately healed the wound, in view of the patient, | | | | he has varies from two to eleven, the numbers of |
| by asking about the cause of the injury. | | | | arms from two to one thousand. In Nepal, 108 forms |
| Those for whom this highly | | | | of Avalokiteshvara occur that are grouped under the |
| cerebral level is a step too far would sooner think to | | | | name of Lokanatha or Lokeshvara (“Lord of the |
| call on the Buddha to heal physical ailments. This | | | | World”). Lokeshvara is more easily pronounced |
| concept developed particularly in Tibet. Tibet owed | | | | than Avalokiteshvara.The various form of Lokeshvara |
| much of its medical knowledge to texts from India. | | | | are Amalganations of other Buddhist divinities and |
| Thus the science of Ayurvedic medicine also reached | | | | Hindi deities. |
| the Himalayas. Considering this knowledge was not | | | | Another common form of |
| specifically Buddhist, although it did accompany | | | | Avalokiteshvara is Padmapani. He has two arms and a |
| Buddhist teaching, a Buddha was created, along the | | | | lotus (Padma) in his hand (pani).In China and Japan, |
| analogy of Shakyamuni as spiritual healer, who | | | | Avalokiteshvara appears in female form, as Kuanyin |
| symbolize medicinal knowledge. This system was | | | | and Kannon, respectively. Kuanyin is often portrayed |
| expanded to the eight medicine Buddhas. Of these | | | | as a Chinese Madonna and Child. The reason for the |
| eight, Bhaisajyaguru is the most important exponent. | | | | female form is that from an Eastern Asian |
| He attained great popularity and is the only one who | | | | perspective, compassion and sympathy are none to |
| is depicted by himself without the other seven. In | | | | martial characteristics and befit women more than |
| popular belief, looking at or touching a thangka of | | | | man. |