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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June 2014
MEDICAL CAMPS/ OUTREACH PROGRAMME
Mumbai Men-Tsee-Khang hosted a free medical camp, at Somaiya Vidhyavihar campus, Mumbai, during His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching, from May 30 June 2, 2014. This was organized by Nalanda Shikshak, a collection of Indian Buddhist groups from places as far flung as Bangalore, Bir, Sankisa and Nasik. During the teachings, a Festival of Tibetan Culture was organized
by Tibetan MP Karma Yeshi. It featured an exhibition focusing on the history of Tibet, the construction of a Medicine Buddha sand-mandala, an
Opening ceremony of College founding day held on 2 June, 2014
opportunity to experience Tibetan medicine and astrology, Tibetan handicrafts, woodcrafts, paintings etc. Men-Tsee-Khang
set
up
an
exhibition on Tibetan medicine and Tibetan astrology; traditional Tibetan health care and oral astrology consultation was also given during the 4 days. A total of 613 patients received
June 2014 well being through diet and lifestyle in Tibetan medicine on 28 May at the Rigpa Center.
News free medicine during the camp and around 10 people received oral astrology consultation. Around 550 people visited the exhibition.. The team members were: Dr. Tsewang Tamdin, visiting physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama; Dr. Tsetan Mingyur, materia medica department; astrologer Mr. Kunga Dhondup,
Astro. Department; Mr. Tenzin Dojree, special tasks director from Dharamsala; Mr. Ugyen Tsewang, general manager and Mr. Tenzin Tashi from Exports Unit Delhi; Dr. Tenzin Choedup, chief resident doctor; Tsering Norbu, Phuntsok Choedon, and Tsering Dolma from Navi Mumbai branch clinic. Men-Tsee-Khang would like to thank Jindal Charitable Trust for donating Rs. 236,800.00 to provide free medicine & travel expense, Mr. Sanjay Shah for donating Rs. 11,000.00 for consultations. Englang, UK A 3-member team headed by Dr. (Mrs) Rigzin Sangmo, head of eNews
Research & Development Department accompanied with Mrs. Tenzin Lhamo, (Medical A s t ro l o g e r ) , astrology department and Mr. Tsering T h o n d u p (Adm. Staff, Rohini clinic) visited London, UK from May 27 to June 10, 2014. The visit was coordinated by Mr.
Chonpel Tsering, Special Project Coordinator, The Office of Tibet, London, UK. Dr. Rigzin Sangmo gave a lecture on maintaining physical & mental
On 29 May Mrs. Tenzin Lhamo medical astrologer gave oral consultation service to 10 people interested in astro. science. and spoke on how Astrology informs traditional Tibetan medicine on 30 June at the center. At the Tara Trust, Edinburg, Scotland the doctor gave a speech on the place of nutrition & behavior in traditional Tibetan medicine where as the medical astrologer presented a lecture on how Astrology informs traditional Tibetan medicine and the role of astrologer for the well being of human life on 31 May. Interested people attended the presentation given by the doctor and the medical astrologer. On 1 June the doctor gave presentation on your nature and hot compression in Tibetan medicine and around 20 people attended both the talks. The medical astrologer gave oral consultations to more than 10 people fascinated in Tibetan astro. science. 2
June 2014 of Medicine Emory University, were the speakers on Advanced Anatomy and Physiology. A total of 108 students participated in this section.
News A lecture on holistic approach of Tibetan medicine & the role of diet and behavior in maintaining good health was given by the doctor at the Kailash Center for Tibetans at London organized by the Tibetan community in Britain on 6 June. The medical astrologer gave oral consultations at the Office of Tibet London. On 9 June the doctor presented a workshop on Tibetan medicine pulse diagnosis in the evening at the Tibetan Foundation London. On the whole the tour was a success with a total of around 120 participants who attended the talks and lectures presented on Tibetan medicine and astrology. The doctor provided health care service and the medical astrologer gave oral astrology consultation to the interested people during the 15 days tour. Men-Tsee-Khang would like to thank the Rigpa Center, Tibet Foundation and Tibet House/ Office of Tibet, London, and Tara Trust in Edingburg, Scotland for organizing the tour and a special word of thanks to Mr. Chonpel Tsering, Paul Brusa, Brio Sweeney, Jon Aldridge and all the
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In section 2, Dr. Richard Pittman and Dr. Jonathan Flacker were the speakers on Clinical Chemistry and Diagnostics. 85 students participated in the course which was held from Tuesday 17 June and until Saturday 21 June. On Sunday 22 June the students appeared for the exam. supporters who made this visit a success. COURSES / WORKSHOPS Emory-Tibet Medical Science Programme The Medical Science programme, a short course from 10-22 June held at Men-Tsee-Khang College is the second collaboration between Men-Tsee-Khang and Emory University. There are 2 sections to the course. Section 1 was held from Thursday 10 June to Saturday 14 June and on Sunday 15 June an exam was given. Dr. Edward Pettus and Dr. Meena Kannan, School
There were four sessions a day and hence the two sections had a 20 session course each on the respective topics. This 12 day course was sponsored by Emory University and Men-Tsee-Khang College. The coordinators of the course were: Dr. Namdol Lhamo (Men-TseeKhang College), and Dr. Carol Worthman, Dr. Michael Iuvone and Dr. Lobsang Tenzin Negi (Emory University). Men-Tsee-Khang would like to thank the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives for providing the translators for the course.
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News COLLEGE FOUNDING DAY The 53rd college founding day was commemorated on 2 June, 2014. The chief guest was Dr.
Tsering Wangchuk, Kalon Health Department and the special guest of honour was Mr. Penpa Tsering. Men-Tsee-Khang Director Mr. Tashi Tsering Phuri, college lecturers, heads of departments, students, staff and media attended the function. The ceremony commenced with the recitation of Yuthok prayers and offering of a butter lamp by the chief and special guest. Then Dr. Tenpa Choephel, principal of the college, gave a brief history of Tibetan medicine: the establishment of MenTsee-Khang in Lhasa, Tibet in 1916 and the re-establishment in exile in India in 1961 to its present stage of development. 2014 has been dedicated by the Kashag and the CTA as the year of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to pay tribute and express gratitude for the all achievements and blessings that he has bestowed on the Tibetan people. Hence a new academic dress has been introduced eNews
for the first time by the Tibetan Medical & Astrological College to mark this great event. The new academic dress consists of a gown, an inner white gown and a trencher (hat) or mortarboard: which is a horizontal square board fixed on a skull-cap, with a tassel attached to it. The academic regalia of Tibetan medicine are:
June 2014 • Gown - The deep blue colour of the gown symbolizes the Medicine Buddha and the red edgings, the speech emanation of the great sage Yidlay Kye (yilas sKyes). Inner white gown - symbolizes the white dress adorned by the Yogi who is the father of Tibetan medicine ‘Yuthok Yonten Gonpo’ and his lineage holders Jangpa and Zurkhar traditions. • Mortar-board - The five bands of colour (deep blue, white, yellow, green and red) in front of the skull cap symbolize the emanation or representation of the Medicine Buddha’s mind, body, wisdom, action and the speech. It also stands for the five great elements. The four corners of the board represent the four immeasurable of unbiased love, compassion, happiness and equanimity and also for the successful mastering of the tantras, treatise, oral transmission and the instruction. The six vertical lines on the skull cap stands for the six qualities of a physician. The three coloured knots on the tassel represent the three humours of rlung (wind), mkhrispa (bile) and badkan (phlegm). The academic regalia of Tibetan Astro. Science are: • Gown - The deep blue colour of the gown symbolizes the colour of beryl: stainless space considered not only the ultimate manifestation of all the four 4
News elements but also the source of all phenomena which represents Tibetan Astro. Science. The yellow edgings represent the three main requesters of the Tibetan Astro. Science Lord Brahma, Shambala King Suchandra and Goddess Parvati. Inner white gown symbolizes the most unique, brightest moon of the autumn season as does the ‘Phugpa Astro. Tradition and its practitioners. • Mortar-board - The five bands of colour (deep blue, white, yellow, green and red) in front of the skull cap stands for the body, speech, mind, wisdom and the action of Lord Manjushri, Kalachakra Diety, and Lord Shiva who are the preachers of elemental astrology, Kalachakra tantra, and the arising vowel respectively. The four corners of the mortarboard represent the four main practices of Tibetan Astro. Science: pacifying, enriching, subjugating and destroying. The six vertical lines on the skull cap stand for the six elements of consciousness, space, wind, fire, water and earth human beings are endowed with, and which are always protected by Tibetan Astro. Science. The three coloured knots on the tassel represent the three main categories of Tibetan Astro. Science: Astrology, Astronomy, and Arising Vowel. eNews
The special guest distributed award certificates to staff who have completed 30 & 20 years of service. The chief guest gave Menrampa degree certificates to the 12th batch doctors, Menpa Kachupa degrees to the 16th batch medical students, rTsi-pa Kachupa degrees to the 8th batch astrology students. The Director of the Institute awarded the members of the Gangri langtso publication and gave recognition to the 6 students who wrote the finest articles. The special guest Mr. Penpa Tsering, chairman of ATPD
(Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies)addressed the gathering by welcoming the guest, staff and students. He said that it is good to see the new academic dress code for the doctors and astrologers implemented from this year according to modern standards. Besides moving with changing times it is also important to enrich the knowledge of Tibetan medicine and astrology as well. Then the chief guest Dr. Tsering Wangchuk, Kalon Health
June 2014 Department congratulated MenTsee-Khang College on its 53rd anniversary. Tibetan medicine has served and benefitted people at large. He said that medical ethics is important and should also work more towards awareness programmes regarding the prevention of illnesses etc. Dr. Passang Wangdue, vice principal of the college gave a word of thanks and the ceremony concluded followed by lunch. OBITUARY Mr. Tenpa Yarphel, retired staff of Men-Tsee-Khang passed away on 9 May, 2014 after a month h o s p i tal i zati o n in Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College Hospital, Tanda. He joined the Institute from 1 July 1986 and worked for 21 years. He served as a cook cum cleaner in Mcleod branch clinic and at the packing unit in Medicine Store department. He was retired on 1 July, 2007. Mr. Phurbu Thakchoe staff of Men-Tsee-Khang expired on 28 June, 2014 due to sudden illness. He joined Men-Tsee-Khang on 6 December, 2006. He served as the head cook of the mess for seven years. Men-Tsee-Khang sends its sincere condolence to the family of the deceased and prays that the departed souls rest in peace. 5