An Introduction to Tibetan Healing
Once a niche tradition, the ancient system of Tibetan healing has now become immensely popular all over the world. Although it shares similarities with traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, its core lies in the teachings and practice of Buddhism.
A key tenet of Buddhism is that life and evolution cause suffering and disease. Physical illness is closely related to mental, social and spiritual illness and negative emotions can cause imbalance in bodily energies, resulting in disease. The essence of the Buddha’s teachings tells us how to tame the mind and alter these negative emotions.
The Tibetan system of healing focuses on curing and preventing suffering by balancing the body and mind. It is a holistic approach to cure minor illness as well as major ailments through changes in diet and behaviour, care, rare herbs, therapies and spiritual practices.
The science behind Tibetan healing: Sowa Rigpa
Sowa Rigpa, or the holistic Tibetan healing system that literally means the ‘science of healing,’ teaches us that the purpose of our lives is to be happy.
Tibetan medicine can help us understand how our health and happiness is affected by our thoughts and behaviour. It is based on the belief that all living beings are composed of three types of energies – loong, tripa and baekan. It is important for all three to be balanced in order to ensure health and wellbeing.
Loong: It enables the body to circulate physical substances (like blood), non-physical substances (like thoughts) and energy (like nervous system impulses).
Tripa: Tripa is the source of several functions including metabolism, thermoregulation and liver functions. It is characterised by heat.
Baekan: It is the source of functions like maintenance of physical structure, aspects of digestion, mental stability and joint health. It is characterised by cold.
Tibetan medicine focuses on keeping these energies in balance with the constitution of a person. Every individual has a unique constitution and we can overcome our weaknesses and enhance our strengths by understanding this make-up.
Basic principles of Tibetan Medicine
According to Tibetan medicine, there are four basic principles – karma, suffering, healing and happiness.
Karma is the universal law of cause and effect. The Tibetan healing system teaches us that it is vital to be aware of the consequences – immediate as well as long-term – of one’s choices, so that we can learn to choose what is good for health and happiness.
Suffering can be mental, physical, spiritual or emotional. It is a universal condition of life and is a result of interpreting life in a negative manner. Nurturing a healthy mind and making lifestyle choices that re-balance our primary energies can result in healing.
Balanced living + Positive thinking = True happiness
Unlike Western systems of medicine, Tibetan medicine concentrates more on treating ailments by pacifying negative emotions and correcting the underlying imbalance. People looking for alternative medicine and healing therapies often choose Tibetan healing as a part of integrative care. If you think that it may be the right choice for you, the best way to start is to seek the help of a Tibetan medicine practitioner who can guide you in restoring the balance of your energies for a happier and healthier life!
For deeper insights into Tibetan Healing as well as other meaningful ways to transform your life for the better, reach out to Kaldan today!