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Our Very Own Tibetan Medicine Factory

དགོང་དྲོ་བདེ་ལེགས། (Good Evening) fellow villagers,

I am now writing to you all as an enriched, wise and understanding individual, which is the goal of Buddhist contemplation. Why is this you might ask? Well, some of the villagers and I, Pasang, Chogyam, Tashi among others, were able to witness an exceptional teaching from the lama on Buddhist cosmology. Up until this point in my Buddhist practice, Buddhist cosmology appeared to me as an utterly complicated concept. Despite this being completely true, the Lama was able to unpack the intricate details that make up said cosmology. I will never be able to repay the Buddhist lama for going out of his way to give all of the members in our village the opportunity to perform prajna and destroy ignorance. Considering how ignorance is one of the reasons we all stay in samsara, I cannot be more pleased and in more debt to this venerable being.

Also, to add to the exciting news, my mandala offering ritual was a success. Not only did the lama accept my mandala with joy in his eyes but he also was very impressed with my performability, considering I am not a ritualist.

But, WAIT, there is more… not only did the righteous individual perform all the things mentioned above, he also left our ritualists with many protective amulets, generously donated funds and resources to construct a printing press and new library at the nunnery, and donated funds to support the building of a medicine factory in the village. Once this factory endeavor will be complete, it will be the only one in our entire region! This is definitely something. Considering that my main attention is allocated to my practice of medicine and healing, this factory will be of serious use to me. But I would like to posit to the individuals of this community to think about how this community will change for the better with these new additions, more specifically the medicine factory. What do these mean for Buddhist practitioners and our goal to reach nirvana? Does it hinder it or help it? I would like to provide the village with a background in Tibetan medicine, thus giving everyone the required knowledge to form an appropriate response to the donation.

It is crucial for our village to acknowledge that the practice of Tibetan medicine has essentially hovered near extinction for years even though there have been many initiatives to preserve it. Historically, it appears that the practice of Tibetan medicine was crippled by the Chinese communist invasion of Tibet in the 1950’s. This invasion consisted of destruction of monasteries, forced exile of leaders, and killing of monks and professionals. Since then, we have all been attempting to overcome this schism of Tibetan development. A combination of Chinese and Tibetan medicine is now used and taught but there are many limitations due to lack of resources and training. Those who take the time to read my writings are probably asking themselves what this has to do with Buddhism. To answer this question, everyone must recognize that Tibetan medicine is intensely entrenched in Buddhist psychology and thinking. According to the known Buddhist perspective, physical illness is entirely connected with the social, mental and spiritual aspects of illness. Moreover, the Medicine Buddha is perceived as a source of medical knowledge and teachings. Physicians, doctors and healers who want to practice correctly use his teachings as guidance. He is the ideal. The teachings of the Medicine Buddha focus on the idea of the three mental poisons- anger, closed-mindedness and attachment. These are all produced by ignorance along with the power of karma and cause what he considers disharmony in bodily energies and disease. I have attached here an image of this medicine Buddha that many in my field look up to.

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Even more simply, when the Buddha first turns the wheel of the Dharma, he provides to all the four noble truths. These truths reveal the truth of suffering and the path to escape this suffering. Tibetan medicine finds its background and foundation here. The rudimentary concept of how disease arises and its symptoms, or suffering of this sense, and the method to cure and prevent suffering permanently or for the time being are what spurred the necessity and existence of Tibetan medicine. Ergo, Tibetan medicine is really Buddhist medicine. The two are unforgettably intertwined.

Also to demonstrate the relevance of Tibetan medicine in Buddhism, we must go back to historical documents and teachings. The Buddha taught medicine to his sangha and this was the first introduction of medicinal methods. This is described as the “Dulwa-smangzhi” or the vinaya sutra on medicine. He also taught them the Gyud-shi, which became the four medical tantras at the foundation of the Tibetan medical system. This medical system uses the appropriate medicines, diet, behavior and therapies to directly heal the patient’s mind and body and pacify the mental negative passions. The Buddha stressed the goal of liberating the mind from ignorance and delusion and Tibetan medicine aids in freeing individuals from disease, achieving this desired goal in Buddhism.

I hope all of you consider this detailed information I provided on the history and necessity of Tibetan Medicine in the Buddhist tradition and realize that the lama is providing our village with the opportunity to pick up the pieces after the schism in Tibetan development and to free us from disease. By freeing us from disease and consequently liberating our minds, we all become that much closer on the path to becoming an arhat and blowing out the flame of suffering. What can anyone else ask for?

Let us use these funds and work together as a village to make it happen!

And remember, do not let ignorance cloud your mind. See the reality in front of you.

Dainin Daeshim