CTA pays homage to the personal physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Dharamsala (Tibet.Net), 20 May 2003: The Central Tibetan Administration mourns the passing away of Dr. Lobsang Wangyal, the personal physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Dr Lobsang Wangyal expired on Monday, May 19th after a prolonged illness. The Central Tibetan Administration remains closed in the afternoon today, as a mark of respect to the departed soul.
The Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute is observing the day as a prayer day to pay homage to the highly regarded doctor whose contribution to the community is greatly valued.
Dr. Lobsang Wangyal was born in 1920 at Lhogha inTibet. He joined Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang, Tibet and studied Tibetan Medicine and Astrology under the tutorship of eminent scholars like Dr. Khenrab Norbu the founder of Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang and the Personal Physician to His Holiness the XIII Dalai Lama. In 1959, after the brutal occupation of Tibet by the Communist China, Dr. Lobsang Wangyal was imprisoned and had underwent tremendous hardships and persecution. By the turn of two decades, a little liberal policy of China towards Tibet offered Dr. Lobsang Wangyal an apportunity to study conventional system of medicine, which he find it necessary in his practice with the change of the time. In recognition of his great services to mankind the Chinese government awarded Dr. Lobsang Wangyal the title of the “Great Master Physician” in 1980.
Dr. Lobsang Wangyal arrived in India on pilgrimage in 1983 and decided to stay back on the kind advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and served in Men-Tse-Khang, Dharamsala as the Personal Physician to His Holiness. Besides, he held various other important posts as the Principal of Men-Tsee-Khang College, Advisor to Research and Development Departments. Dr. Lobsang Wangyal toured many western countries to promote and propagate the ancient, traditional Tibetan system of medicine in the service of mankind, and was respected by all as the great physician.