The Supreme Physician

During the Buddha’s lifetime he was given numerous epithets in recognition of his outstanding qualities. Some of these include the Happy One, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Lord of Creatures, King of Truth, Teacher, etc. One of the most interesting of these epithets, found in several places in the Tipitaka, is the Supreme Physician (anuttaro bhisakko, It.101). It is usually thought that this refers to the Buddha’s ability to soothe and ultimately heal the afflictions of saṃsāra – birth, death and rebirth, greed, hatred and delusion.