Sūtras for Wellbeing: How the Buddha Healed the City of Vaiśālī

By John Canti4 May 2020

The story of Vaiśālī: an ancient city saved from famine and epidemic through sacred verses, introducing protection and healing practices used for over two millennia.

Sūtras for Wellbeing

What do ancient Buddhist sūtras have to say about wellbeing today? In this six-part short video series, we explore selected sūtras and the practical insights they offer for navigating modern life. Through brief, accessible reflections, each episode highlights how the Buddha’s words can support clarity, balance, and inner resilience

Episode 1: On Entering the City of Vaiśālī

In this video, editorial co-director John Canti introduces a group of Buddhist scriptures centered on protection and healing, beginning with an account set in the city of Vaiśālī. The text recounts a time when the city was afflicted by famine and a devastating epidemic, leading its people to seek the Buddha’s intervention. Upon his arrival, the Buddha instructed his disciple Ānanda to recite specific verses at the city gates in order to restore harmony and well-being. The video highlights how these sacred recitations brought an end to the plague by invoking the power of the Three Jewels—the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha. For centuries, this sūtra has served as a foundational resource for practitioners seeking peace and resilience in times of hardship, reminding us of the enduring power of the Buddha’s teachings as a source of both spiritual and physical restoration.