M E N -T S E E - K H A N G (Tibetan Medical & Astro. Institute of H.H. the Dalai lama)
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eNews
June 2013
MEN-TSEE-KHANG OUTREACH PROGRAMME Dharamsala Men-Tsee-Khang (Tibetan Medical & Astro. Institute of H. H. the Dalai Lama) held an outreach programme at Tsulag Khang (main temple) from 5-6th June, 2013. This followed His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama teaching on Shanti Deva's "A Guide to the Boddhisattva's Way of Life (chod-jug)" as requested by the Indian Sanghas. The aim of the outreach programme is to promote traditional Tibetan medicine and astrology to the locals and tourists. A team of three doctors led by Dr. Tenzin Lhadon, visiting A new book “Encyclopedia of Myriad Medicinal Plants in Tibetan Medicinal Tradition� physician to H.H the Dalai Lama, part I and II was launched by His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the audience for the participants of Body, Mind & Life conference at Tsuglakhang Temple. 2 astrologers and 8 staff provided consultations to 23 The doctor gave presentations and visitors. The visitors lectures on Sowa Rigpa, healing experienced first- science of Tibetan medicine 2500 hand understanding years ago; introduction of Tibetan and awareness medicine, Relationship between of this traditional Tibetan medicine and Tibetan system of healing astrology, and Tibetan medicine and and astrology. Buddhist philosophy.
medical treatment to 227 patients and external therapy treatment to 19 patients. In addition, astrologers Kunga Dhondup and Monlam Yeshi provided oral astrological
Australia Dr. Tsewang Tamdin, visiting physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and chairman of High Level Medical & Astro. Council toured Australia from 8-21 June, 2013. The doctor visited Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.
Around 200 interested people attended the talk presented by the doctor. He also gave health care services to 147 people according to traditional Tibetan healing system of diagnosis. The doctor visited Dee Why Public School in Sydney, Michelle Church and East Bound Family Hospital, Box Hell Hospital in Melbourne, Australian National
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University and Griffith Center in Canberra. He also visited patients, bedridden in their homes and hospital, to give alternative health care and advice. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES Emory Tibet Science Biomedical Sciences Programme: Dharamsala The Emory-Tibet Medical Sciences Programme (ETMS) was cosponsored by Emory University and Men-Tsee-Khang College. The organizers were Michael Iuvone, Ph.D neuroscientist, Professor and Director of Vision Research, Emory Univeristy School of Medicine; Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, Ph.D contemplative scholar, Emory-Tibet Partnership, Emory University, Senior
Lecturer, Department of Religion; and Carol Worthman, Ph.D Biological and Medical Anthropologist, Professor, Emory University. Men-Tsee-Khang
June 2013 This programme has been initiated between Men-TseeKhang and EmoryTibet Partnership to foster education and dialogue with Western biomedical sciences. The ETMS coordinators are: Dr. Namdol Lhamo, lecturer of Tibetan Medical & Astro. College, Men-TseeKhang and Dr. Carol Worthman, Dr. Michael Iuvone and Dr. Lobsang Tenzin Negi from Emory University. The Emory team lecturers were: T.J. Murphy, Ph.D., Pharmacologist Associate Professor, Pharmacology; J.Wylie Nicholas, Ph.D., Physiologist Associate Professor, Department of Physiology; Edward Pettus, Ph.D., Anatomist Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology and Robert Pittman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Clerkship Director, Internal Medicine, Grady Memorial Hospital. All the team lecturers are from Emory University School of Medicine. The programme was divided into two sections. In Section 1: Dr. Pettus and Dr. Nichols gave presentations on anatomy and physiology. Section 2: lectures on pharmacology and clinical chemistry were given by Dr. Murphy and Dr. Pittman. The first section was from 10-14 June with four sessions of one and a half hours in a day and the second section was from 18-21 June. 60 students from the Tibetan
Medical & Astro. College attended the biomedical science programme. They appeared for an exam after the completion of each section. Dr. Ray Schinazi, Emory-Tibet Partnership, and Department of Pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine supported the funding. SEMINARS & CONFERENCES Body, Mind and Life Conference: Dharamsala The Body, Mind & Life conference initiated after extensive deliberation was organized by Men-Tsee-Khang from 26-28 June, 2013. Dr. Arun Kapur, Executive Director, Vasant Valley School and a well known educationist in India graced the inaugural function of Body, Mind and Life conference as the chief guest. This conference is the first of its kind where, discussion from four different perspectives: Buddhist Philosophy, Tibetan medicine, Tibetan astrology & astronomy and modern science, was presented on one platform. The five main topics are: • General concept of Body, Mind and Life • Seeds of Body, Mind and Life • Relationship between Body, Mind and Life • Factors responsible for the disturbance of the Body, Mind and Life • Maintaining and restoring healthy Body, Mind and Life. The chief guest said that such conferences are not only a perfect platform to address the burning issues of how we can better understand ourselves, but essential in understanding our individual nature, human nature, and equipping tools required to restore a sense of truth, honour, and respect in a society and world filled with 2
News ethical degradation. There were around 300 health professionals, experts, educationists
and specialists who joined the conference including Indians, Westerners and Tibetans. The speakers for modern science were: • Dr. Charles Rasion, MD Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona. • Dr. James S. Gordon, MD, founder and director of the Center for MindBody Center, Washington. • Dr. Joan Borysenko, Ph.D founding partner of Mind Body Health Sciences, LLC, Boulder, Colorado. • Dr. Terry V. Eagan, MD, Assistant Clinical Prof. Dept. of Psychiarty and behavioural Sciences (USC) University of Southern California. Speakers for Tibetan medicine consisted of: • Dr. Rakdho Lobsang Tenzin, Dean of Sorig Department, University of CUTS (Central University of Tibetan Studies) Sarnath. • Dr. Thupten Gyaltsen (CMO Mundgod clinic, MTK). • Dr. Tenpa Chophel (Principal, College, MTK). • Dr. Pema Dorjee (former visiting physician to His Holiness). • Dr. Tsewang Tamdin (visiting physician to His Holiness and chairman of High Level Medical & Astro. council, MTK) Speakers for Tibetan astrology Men-Tsee-Khang
June 2013 included: • Mr. Tashi Tsering, Associate Prof. Astro. Department, University of CUTS (Central University of Tibetan Studies) Sarnath. • Dr. Sonam Rinchen (Mentsipa, College, MTK). • Ms. Tsering Choezom (Head of Astrology Dept. MTK) • Mr. Tenzin Nyendak (Astrology Dept. MTK) Speakers for Buddhist philosophy were: • Ven. Sherab Lhundup (Bon Menriling Monastery, Solan). • Ven. Geshe Lharampa Lobsang Khechok (Drepung Gomang). • Ven. Geshe Lharampa Ngawang Sangye (Drepung Loseling). • Ven. Geshe Lharampa Iesa Drungchen Rinpoche (Gaden Jangtse). • Nun Tashi Lhamo (Dolmaling nunnery). • Ven. Geshe Lhakdor (Director, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala). The Body, Mind and Life conference successfully concluded on 28 June, 2013. Sikyong Lobsang Sangay spoke at the closing ceremony, praising the success of the three day Body, Mind and Life conference. Mr. Suyodh P. Rao one of the participants in the conference said that it was a humbling experience. He said that it had been a very enlightening three days and he had learnt a lot. He mentioned that Tibetan medicine
has so much to offer, the evolution of which took place over last centuries. Mr. Benoid Petit mentioned that great scholars and practitioners from Western and Tibetan medicine, and Tibetan buddhist philosophers coming together was a holistic approach and is grateful to MenTsee-Khang and His Holiness the Dalai Lama for organizing and initiating an excellent channel of research. The speakers and the participants of Body, Mind and Life conference had an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 28 June, 2013. His Holiness address the participants by congratulating all the scholars from different perspectives who shared their expertience on one platform. He said that it is important for the Tibetan medical tradition to move forward in line with changing times, to initiate dialogue, discussion and share experiences with various traditional healing system including modern science, to have a good channel of research, to analyze our vast system with logical reasons behind the practice and to offer the valuable traditional medicine of Tibet as an alternative healing system to benefit the world. A new book “Encyclopedia of Myriad Medicinal Plants in Tibetan Medicinal Tradition” was launched by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, published by Materia Medica Department, MTK.
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