| HISTORY
OF TIBETAN MEDICAL AND ASTRO INSTITUTE Trisong-Deutsen
(718-785 A.D.)In the 8th century, King Trisong-Deutsen
invited several great physicians for the first ever known medical conference at
Samye, Tibet. In attendance were eminent physicians from India, China, Persia,
East Turkistan, and Nepal. Elder Yuthog Yonten Gonpo represented Tibet. The conference
lasted for several days, during which time the delegates discussed the theoris
and practices of their medical systems in comparison to those of the others.
Elder Yuthog Yonten Gonpo ( 708-833 A.D.)
Yuthog Yonten Gonpo was born at Toelung Kyina to Yuthog
Khyungpo Dorjee and Gyapa Choeky Dolma on the 25th June. In the tradition and
father-son lineage, he learned from his father and started practicing basic elements
of medicals science at early age. In order to test his knowledge, the King Me-Agtsom
summoned him at the age of ten for a debate with the famed Tibetan physician Drangti
Gyalnye Kharphug and many others. Yuthog emerged victorious and became supreme
among the nine eminent physicians of Tibet. His clever answers to the visiting
scholars, such as Shanti Garhwa of India and Tongsum Gangwa of China, earned Yuthog
a great reputations amongst them, and he was respected by all as an emanation
of the medicine Buddha. Yuthog Yonten Gonpo became
the personal physician to the Tibetan kings Me-Agtsom and Trisong Deutsen. He
visited India several times to study with eminent physicians and travelled to
China as well. He established Tibet's first medical institute called "Tanadug"
at Kongpo Manlung in the south in 763 A. D., which no longer exists. He devoted
his whole life to the propagation and promotion of Tibetan medical science.
Lang Darma (863-906 A.D.) In
A.D. 896, the King Tri Ralpa Chen (866-896 A.D.) was murdered and his elder brother
Lang Darma enthroned. Due to Lang Darma's poor administration of the central government,
Tibet disintegrated into civil war. Buddhism was completely destroyed in the central
parts of Tibet, but survived in the far east and west. For the next 364 years
Tibet was decentralized and weakened.
Rinchen
Sangpo (958-1056 A.D.) In the later development
of Buddhism, the great translator Rinchen Sangpo (958-1056 A.D.) with all his
effort revived Buddhism and Tibetan Medicine. He travelled to Kashmir and received
medical teachings such as Ashtanga Samhita (Tib: Yan-lag brGyad-pa'i
sNying-po bsdus-pa; Eng: Condensation of the Essences of Eight Branches) and
its commentary, Dhaser (Moonlight) and the veterinary text Shali Hotra
from the great Pandit Chandra Ananda, which later he translated into Tibetan.
His work enhanced the development of Buddhism as well as medicine in Tibet.
Junior Yuthog Yonten Gonpo (1126-1202 A.D.)
Junior Yuthog Yonten Gonpo was the 13th in the lineage of
the Elder Yuthog Yonten Gonpo. Born in Goshi Rethang to Yuthog Khyungpo Dorjee
and Padma Oden, he began studying medicine at the age of eight. At ten, he received
the whole teachings of rGyud-bzhi from Rogton Konchok Kyab, and from the
age of eighteen he visited India six times and received teachings from Dakini
Palden Trengwa and the sage Caraka. On his return
to Tibet, Yuthog Yonten Gonpo dedicated his life to the practice of medicine for
the benefit of all sentient beings. He wrote Serchen (Golden Notes), Zongchen
(Wealthy Notes), cha-lag bco-brGyad (Eighteen Supplementary Works), and
Nyingpo Duspa (Condensation of the Essences) and a commentary on its theoretical
points called Thongway Melong. He gave his entire teachings to his best
disciple Yeshe Sung. Of his many disciples, three hundred of them are well known
today.
Janpa Namgyal Dragsang (1295-1376
A.D.) Jangpa Namgyal Dragsang was the seventh
in the lineage of King Se'u of Minyag. He was awarded the title Rinpoche Thamks
by the King Gongma-Sechen. He was born to Gu'i-ging Chodrak Palsang and Bumkyong-Gyalmo,
the daughter of Situ Chorin, at Ngam-ring. At the age of ten, he learned Sutra,
Tantra and medicines from Palden Naggi Rinchen and Bodong Chogle Namgyal. He wrote
many books on Buddhist Philosphy, Crafts, and Astrology, and eleven books on Medicine.
He is one of the two renowned founders of the Jangpa tradition of Tibetan medicine.
Mi'i Nyima Thong-wa Donden was one of his best disciples.
Zurkhar
Nyamnyi Dorjee (1439-1476 A.D.) Zurkhar Nyamnyi
Dorjee was born to Rigzin Phuntsok and the daughter of Kunkyen Tashi Namgyal in
the Earth Sheep year. He learned Buddhist philosophy and medicine from many renowned
scholars and, at the age of 16, he wrote Manngag-Jewa-Ringsel (Pith Instructions,
Relics in Crores) and many other treatises. He was the founder of the Zurlug
tradition of Tibetan medicine. Later, his grandson Zurkhar Lodoe Gyalpo wrote
a commentary on rGyud-bzhi called Mepoi Zallung (Oral Instructions
of my Forefathers).
Regent Sangye Gyatso
(1653-1705 A. D.) Sangye Gyatso was born to Asug
and Buthi Gyalmo in the Water Snake year. He began his studies at the age of five
and when he was eight, he learned Sutras and Tantras from the Great Fifth Dalai
Lama. He learned Astrology and grammar from Darpo Lotsa, Yangchar (Arisal
of Vowels, an Astrology) from Lugo Dachen Ngag gi Wangpo, and medicine from Jangpa
Lhunding Namgyal Dorjee, and he became an expert in all these fields. Sangye
Gyatso was appointed Regent by the Great Fifth Dalai Lama (1617-1682). During
his 26 years in this position, the Potala Palace was rebuilt and expanded to its
present size and the golden stupa of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama was built. Under
his guidance, seventy nine medical thangkas were produced, the rGyud-bzhi
was edited and published, and the Chagpori Medical College was established in
Lhasa in 1696, the Fire Mouse year. Sangye Gyatso wrote many books on astrology,
especially Vaidurya-Karpo (White Beryl), and medicine, including Vaidurya
sNgon-po (Blue Beryl), the most popular commentary on the rGyud-bzhi.
Rev. Khyenrab Norbu (1883-1962 A.D.)
Rev. Khyenrab Norbu was born to Astrologer Ngawo-che and
Yangchen in the Water Sheep year at Tsethang, southern Tibet. He was admitted
to Ngachoe Monastery, and was known to be good in his studies, intelligent, compassionate
and humble. As a result, he was selected from many young monks as a candidate
to study medicine and went to Chagpori Medical College in Lhasa. There he was
taught by Dr. Ngawang Choden. He passed his exams in a relatively short time.
In order to preserve and expand Tibetan medicine, the Great
Thirteenth Dalai Lama (1876-1933) in 1897 appointed Tekhang Jampa Thubwang and
Jabung Damchoe Palden as his senior and junior physicians respectively, and ordered
them to teach selected students. Khyenrab Norbu, Tenpa Yarphel and Tsultrim Nyandrag
were chosen from Chagpori Medical College to study under the senior physician
and they received teachings on rGyud-bzhi and its various commentaries
such as Vaidurya sNgon-po (The Blue Lapis Lazuli). Khyenrab Norbu also
learned medicine, astrology, poetry and grammar. He was named Yangchen rgyas
pai Lodoe as an honor to his hard work. When he was 29, in the Iron Dog year
(1912), he took responsibility of the Medical Clinic at Drepung Monastery - to
maintain the health of the monks. He began writing books and doing research on
Tibetan Medicine. The Great Thirteenth Dalai Lama,
in the year of the Fire Dragon, 1916, appointed Khyenrab Norbu as Director of
both the Chagpori Medical College and Men-Tsee-Khang (Tibetan Medical & Astrological
Institute). In 1918, he was appointed to the post of Junior Physician to H. H.
The Dalai Lama. He spent his entire life promoting Tibetan culture, especially
medicine and astrology. He wrote and compiled many books, including a description
on Root Tantra's illustration(Tib: gsorig-rgya-tso-nyingpo; Eng: Essences
from the Ocean of Medical Healing); a book on medicinal plants (Tib: Ngotsar-sergyi-nyema;
Eng: Wonderful Golden Hair); books on the uses of medicines (Tib: Man-byor-nuspa-phyogdus;
Eng: Condensation of the Effects of the Medicine; and Tib: Duetsi-'bumsang;
Eng: One Hundred Thousand Good Nectars) and a book on astrology (Tib: Rigden-nyingthig;
Eng: Endowment of Knowledge of the Heart-Drop). Some of the present eminent physicians
such as the Senior and Junior physicians to H. H. The XIV Dalai Lama, Tenzin Choedak
and Lobsang Wangyal respectively, former personal physician to H. H. The XIV Dalai
Lama Yeshi Dhonden, and the former director of Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang Jampa Thinley
were his disciples. He died at the age of eighty in the Water Tiger year, 1962.
A Dark Period in Tibetan History The
Chinese invaded Tibet from the east in 1949. On 10th March, 1959, the chinese
ruthlessly suppressed peaceful Tibetan demonstrations in Lhasa by artillery fire
and bombardment. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, followed by thousands of Tibetans,
escaped into exile in India. During the Cultural
Revolution (1966-1976 ) the Chinese destroyed more than 6,000 monastries, demolished
statues, burnt religious and astrological-medicine books, destroyed forests, and
wreaked unimaginable destruction to flora and fauna. As a direct consequence of
Chinese repression, more than 1.2 million Tibetans died.
Men-Tsee-Khang
Under The Government in Exile The Chinese are
using every possible medthod to exterminate the culture and identity of the Tibetan
people. In order to preserve and promote the richness of Tibetan culture, under
the auspices of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama many institutions, monastries
and schools were re-established in India. Men-Tsee-Khang (the Tibetan Medical
and Astrological Institute) was established on March 23rd, 1961, with Dr. Yeshi
Dhonden and Ven. Lodoe Gyatso as the heads of the Medical and Astrological sections,
respectively. Initially, Men-Tsee-Khang lacked necessary
facilities, money, and staff, and was situated in a room on the upper floor of
an old house in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, in Himachal Pradesh. Mcleod Ganj is a
small town known as "Little Lhasa", situated at the base of the Dhauladhar
mountains at 1768 meters above main sea level. At present, the Institute's headquarters
in Dharamsala oversees the operation of nearly 40 branch clinics in India, Nepal
and abroad. Since beginning operations in exile,
the work of Men-Tsee-Khang has undergone significant development with the creation
of the Pharmaceutical, Research & Development, Materia Medica, and Editoral
& Publication department, as well as the College for training new doctors
and astrologers. Astrology department produces range of annual almanac, calenders,
amulets and horoscopes for individuals. Also produce marriage compatibility charts
for the sick, yearly progression charts, after death charts, the date and time
for different religion, ceremonies and the timing of preparation of traditional
medicine. In addition, Men-Tsee-Khang, which distributes
Men-Tsee-Khang products internationally, operates from New Delhi. Most of the
medicine produced by the Pharmaceutical Department goes to Indians and foreigners.
Today, the Institute's staff numbers 350. With the increasing popularity of Tibetan
medicine, Men-Tsee-Khang doctors and astrologers regularly visit Europe, Canada,
USA, Russia, Japan and many places in India for conferences, seminars, consulations,
and exhibitions.
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