First Conference on Sowa Rigpa Opens
Dharamsala, 5 January 2004: The Tibetan doctors of Sowa Rigpa (one of the five major fields of studies) will form a medical council. This was announced here at the first conference of Tibetan doctors practicing Tibetan medicine. More than a hundred Tibetan doctors have gathered here from different places in India and abroad at the Gangkyi Staff Mess for the two-day conference of Tibetan Sorig medical doctors.
Mr. Pema Jungney, the Chairman of the Tibetan Assembly and the Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche were the chief guests for the inaugural function. Also present were Mr. Thupten Lungrik, Kalon for Departments of Education and Religion & Culture and Mr. Lobsang Nyandak, Kalon for Departments of Health and Finance.
The function began with the offering of scarves and lighting of butter lamp by Mr. Pema Jungney and Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche.
Organised by the Department of Health, the conference will discuss ways to tackle the various problems faced today by the traditional Tibetan healing science. Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche expressed his pleasure over the response from the doctors in form of a strong attendance at the conference. He said that Kashag is gravely concerned about the upliftment of the Tibetan healing tradition.
The Health Kalon, in his address to the gathering, said that the Tibetan traditional healing technique is now being commercialised and that a governing body should be set up to preserve and promote the unique healing tradition of Tibet.
The council will comprise of the Senior Physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, three doctors from the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute elected by the doctors of the institute, four Non-TMAI doctors and an allopathic doctor appointed by the department of health.
Mr. Tenpa Samkhar, the Secretary of the Department of Health, told the gathering that everyone is concerned about the deteriorating condition of the Tibetan tradition of Sowa Rigpa and that the council should “bell the cat”.
A booklet of Tibetan medical law was also distributed to the doctors.