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Question

Jeewaka was the Buddha’s Physician. He is venerated in Thailand by its Medical Profession and statues of Jeewaka are a common sight in Thai Hospitals. Can Sri Lanka being another Theravada Buddhist country adopt the practice of remembering Jeewaka like in Thailand. What measures are required by the authorities in Sri Lanka to do so?

AI Overview

Answer

Yes.

Sri Lanka, as a prominent Theravada Buddhist nation with its own rich history of ancient medicine, can certainly adopt the practice of venerating Jeewaka (Jīvaka Komārabhacca) as a patron of medicine. This practice would align well with the country’s Buddhist heritage and existing appreciation for traditional healing systems. 

Currently, Jivaka is already honored by Indians and Thais as a patron of traditional healing systems.

This practice would align well with the country’s Buddhist heritage and existing appreciation for traditional healing systems. 

Currently, Jivaka is already honored by Indians and Thais as a patron of traditional medicine, playing a central role in their related ceremonies. While Jivaka’s story is known in Sri Lankan Buddhist literature, his widespread public veneration in hospitals like in Thailand is not a current national practice, as local indigenous medical traditions often look to other historical figures or kings as patrons. 

Required Measures for Adoption

Adopting this practice would involve a combination of official recognition, educational initiatives, and cultural promotion:

• Official Endorsement: The Ministry of Indigenous Medicine and the Ministry of Health could officially recognize Jivaka as a symbolic figure or patron for the medical profession (both indigenous and Western medicine).
• Medical Community Engagement: Professional medical associations, including the Sri Lanka Medical Council and Ayurvedic Medical Council, could promote his story and values (skill, compassion, ethics) among their members and students.
• Educational Integration: Jivaka’s life and ethical conduct could be integrated into the curricula of medical schools and traditional medicine institutions (e.g., the University of Colombo’s Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, etc.).
• Physical Installations: Statues or images of Jivaka could be placed in prominent locations within hospitals, medical faculties, and research institutions, similar to the practice in Thai hospitals. Plaques could explain his significance as the Buddha’s physician and a model healer.
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• Ceremonial Practices: Annual ceremonies or events could be established where medical professionals gather to pay respect to Jivaka, recite Buddhist pirith (chanting for protection and health), and reflect on medical ethics and patient care.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: The government and Buddhist organizations could launch campaigns to raise awareness among the general public about Jivaka’s legacy and his connection to the core values of the medical profession.
• Research and Documentation: Encouraging historical and cultural research into Jivaka’s connection to ancient Sri Lankan or Indian medicine can help solidify the practice’s cultural relevance.

By implementing these measures, Sri Lanka could foster a deeper connection between its rich Buddhist heritage and the modern practice of medicine, using Jivaka as a powerful symbol of compassionate and skilled healing.

Source: AI Overview

see also

Jivaka Komarabhacca physician of ancient India. also known in China and Japan. jivaka has Influenced Traditional Chinese Medicine

Jīvaka  –  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C4%ABvaka

A shrine to Jivaka at Wat Bang Kung temple in Thailand