Commercialism threatens Sorig preservation: Kalon Tripa

Thursday, 4 January 2007, 4:30 P.M.

Kalon Tripa with board members of the Central Council of Tibetan Medicine and secretary for Health Department of the exile administration

Dharamshala: Commercialism is the biggest threat for preservation of sorigpa or Tibetan traditional system of medicine, Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche said at the inauguration of the second international conference of the Central Council of Tibetan Medicine held at the Gangkyi Hall.

Kalon Tripa said that commercialization of sorigpa poses a threat in turning the doctors’ profession into a business.

And in this the patients might get trapped in a vicious circle of visiting them again and again, he added.

Highlighting the importance of preserving and promoting traditional system of healing and medication, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche further said that it is our universal responsibility to preserve our traditional system of medicine because it is something which has ability to help all the beings.

He said that it is not within us to remodel and upgrade our traditional system because of its divine origin. It is not mysticism rather it is something which is verifiable through reasoning.

“Thus we could only preserve traditions. Upgrading it may distort its originality”, Kalon Tripa said.

He also stressed the importance of keeping close relations with other traditional systems of medicine in the Himalayan region.

Appreciating the Central Council of Tibetan Medicine for inviting traditional doctors from across India, Nepal and Bhutan, Kalon Tripa said, such gatherings would help in sharing experiences and achievements and helping each other and developing a sense of fellowship.

“However, it is also important to learn from practioners of modern medicine like documentation of patients’ records and many other qualities which would help or benefit us”, Kalon Tripa said.

Before winding up his speech, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche emphasised the importance of obtaining Indian government’s recognition of our sorigpa doctors.

The vice-chair of the council, Menrampa Dawa read out the message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to this conference attended by over 100 sorigpa doctors, 50 students, along with members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, officials of the exile administration, heads of the NGOs and reporters.

In his message His Holiness expressed his hope that this conference of doctors based on traditional system of medicine, from various countries, would benefit whole of humanity.

The chairperson of the council, Menrampa Pema Dorjee read the 3-year report of the council, including its achievements and challenges it faced in the past three years.

The conference will go on till 6 January 2007.