TASHI DELEK!

Welcome to the fourth issue of
THE SORIG NEWS!

16 students from 8 countries (Australia, Austria, Estonia, France, Italy, Poland, Russia and Singapore) had an adventure of a lifetime with their teacher Dr Nida, across Amdo’s beautiful landscapes in August. It was truly a memorable journey worthy of five perfections: Perfect location, Perfect teachers, Perfect students (we hope), Perfect subjects and Perfect time. We are happy to share some highlights of the trip in our photo gallery ....yah yah... demo demo....

I am also happy to introduce our newest head office team member Liseta Fraga. She will coordinate Dr Nida's teaching trips as well as manage the online shop.
As our travel coordinator, she can be reached via iattmho.schedule@gmail.com if you need assistance.

I hope that this will help to make it easier for all coordinators to ensure a smooth travel for Dr.Nida and through that contribute to spreading Tibetan Medicine across the globe.

May all be well & happy,
Sorig News Editor
Jacqueline

In this issue:

Tanadug University TTM Online Course

Online Tibetan Language Course

An Extraordinary Journey - Amdo 2011

Mantra Healing Course

Latest on Rigzin Rabpel Ling Project in Amdo

A Perfect Journey to the Rainbow Body

The Sorig Materia Medica - Asparagus

Living with the Seasons - Winter

International Ku Nye Instructor Course

From Sorig Publications
Publishing House of IATTM

DVDs By Dr.Nida Chenagtsang

	Ku Nye Traditional Tibetan Massage Best therapy for rlung or wind humour imbalances. This DVD reveals the Ku Nye massage techniques.
	Ku Nye 2 External Therapies in TTM This DVD shows more of the external herapies: Tibetan stick therapy, moxa compresses, hot stone massage, shell massage. Mongolian moxa (horme), etc.
	Nejang Tibetan Healing Yoga These yogic exercises from the Tibetan medical tradition have been used for centuries to promote healing, balance the internal energies, and cleanse the body.

To purchase the DVDs, please contact your local organiser.

Alternatively, please visit Tanadug Online shop here: Online shopping

TANADUG UNIVERSITY TTM ONLINE COURSE

TTM 1.3 Online Course starts in November 2011.
We will have several teachers for this course:

Course information:

• The course will be held online in English (requirements are computer and internet connection)
• Starts November 1st, 2011, 5 pm UTC (= 7 pm German time)
• Teaching will be every Tuesday/Thursday for 2.5 h, for more details please check www.tanaduni.com
• Course fee: 650€ 
• Reduced course fee for repeaters, unemployed students/students with low income: 225€
• Who can join the course? Students who have finished TTM 1.1 and/or TTM 1.2
• The course will take place with a minimum number of 8 students.

For registration, please contact Sergio Carvalho, our Tanadug University coordinator: t tm.portugal@gmail.pt

For more detailed information, please visit Tanadug University's website:

www.tanaduni.com

NOT IN THE SAME TIME ZONE?
It is now possible for anyone who may want to attend online teaching but are unable to attend at the time scheduled, it is now possible to take the course in the form of streaming video, i.e. the video of the teaching may be viewed at a later time convenient for you.

People in different times zones or people who for some reasons are unable to attend directly may apply for the streaming facility.
The video is exactly the same being only played in recorded mode.
To apply for the course, please contact us and we will send all the necessary information, like instructions and account for payment, etc.

IATTM Training Schedule
Oct - Dec 2011
with Dr.Nida and IATTM teachers

Contact local coordinators to register for the courses. Go to:
http://www.iattm.net/uk/contact.htm

To arrange a course in your country, email to our international course coordinator, Tam Nguyen, email: iattmho@gmail.com

Online Tibetan Language Course

Online Tibetan Language Course 1  -Starts 2 November 2011
with Puntsok Tsering

• The course is held online in English (requirements are a computer and internet connection)
• Start November 2nd, 2011, 5 pm UTC (= 7pm German time)
• Tibetan 1 includes 15 hours, teaching will be every Wednesday/Friday for 1.5 hr
• Content: pronunciation and writing of the Tibetan alphabet, all combination of syllables, 20-30 basic terms of the medical context
• Course fee: 120€
• Reduced course fee (only for unemployed students or students with low income): 80€
• Teaching book: Manual of Standard Tibetan, by Nicolas Tournadre and Sangda Dorje
• Who can join the course? Anyone. No knowledge about Tibetan language required as this is a beginner course.
• The course will proceed with a minimum number of 8 students

About  Puntsok Tsering - a modern Tibetan artist and calligraphy writer, currently living in Germany. His artwork has been exhibited in "Tibethaus" in Frankfurt and he is giving courses in Tibetan language regularly.

For registration, please contact Sergio Carvalho, our Tanadug University coordinator: ttm.portugal@gmail.pt

Photo Gallery - Pictures speak louder than words!

Click on the image to access the album:

	Rigzin Rabpel Ling Project - latest update
	IATTM Amdo 2011

An Extraordinary Journey - Amdo 2011
By Jacqueline Yu

It was with great anticipation that I began my long awaited trip to Amdo. The trip was organised by Sorig Travel,
..............read more

MANTRA HEALING COURSE

MANTRA HEALING COURSE
with NGAKPA HUNGCHEN CHENAKTSANG
@ MENLA LING, Mantra Healing Centre near Paris
22 November to 6 December 2011

To deepen your knowledge and practice in Mantra Healing and Spiritual Healing.
A great opportunity to receive these important teachings!

BUDDHA'S HEART TEACHINGS (Refuge, Boddhicitta) - 2 days: Tue & Wed, 22 Nov & 23 Nov
BY DONATION (suggested amount 60€ per day)

DORJE SEMPA (VAJRASATTVA) - 2 days: Thur & Fri, 24 Nov & 25 Nov
BY DONATION (suggested amount 60€ per day)

8 YOGAS OF DAILY BEHAVIOUR - 1 day: Sun 27 Nov
60€

DORJE GOTRAB - 4 days: Mon to Thu, 28 Nov to 1 Dec
200€ if more than 10 pers
240€ if 10 pers

GARUDA and 4 ACTIONS OF PADMASAMBHAVA
(Guru Siddhi Le Tso) - 5 days: Fri to Tue, 2 Dec to 6 Dec
250€ if more than 10 pers.
330€ if 10 pers.

The courses are in Amdo language, with main translation in English.

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD in Menla Ling: 48€ per day (incl. 3 vegetarian
meals and tea breaks), room-sharing for 2 to 3 pers.
It is preferable that all students sleep in Menla Ling.
Places are limited to approx. 20 students.

Ngakpa Hungchen Chenaktsang is specially invited by Dr. Nida to give several mantras and spiritual teachings to TTM students. He is a reknown Ngakpa from Qinghai and belongs to the famous group of Ngakpas from Rebkong. He is co-founder of the Ngakmang Institute with Dr Nida. In Tibet, he is a strong pillar for NMI as a teacher to young Ngakpas as well as a cultural and spiritual advisor for all local Ngakmang activities. He is continuously receiving teachings from his great masters in Gonglaka monastery, near Rebkong. He is also a great scholar and has worked as a researcher in Cambridge and Oxford Universities, and in the US, as well as in China. 

For full details & registration, please contact Elise Mandine: mttfrance@gmail.com

Living with the Seasons

~ Winter ~

Winter is a time of hybernation. A time to slow down and spend time in reflection. In Tibetan medicine study, there is a physiological explanation why we should slow down. In early winter, the pores in our skin constrict thereby increasing our body's internal heat. So during this time, it is important to slow down physical activities, and ensure that our food intake is adequate enough. With the long winter nights, if our food intake is not adequate enough, it will cause our bodily constituents to deteriorate due to the intense digestive heat.

Nature has its ways and rhythm as autumn moves into winter, our appetite naturally increases and we can eat as much warming foods as we like. One should eat foods that are sweet, sour and salty. Some meat soup and oily foods will help nourish our weaker bodily energies.

We should also rub our body with sesame oil after bath and keep ourselves warm with warm clothings and occasional warm compresses.

All these recommendations for diet and behaviour should be followed with adjustments according to variations within the seasons. We can keep ourselves in balance by living with awareness of the changes in our environments and avoiding extreme behaviours.

This concludes our short articles on living with the seasons.

Latest on Rigzin Rabpel Ling Project in Amdo!

Rigzin Rabpel Ling Project

Preserving Tibetan Cultural Heritage

The project launched by the International Ngak-Mang Institute* is now entering in its realization phase with donations from Singapore, USA, Spain, Germany, Australia, Italy and France (around 260 000 Yuan have been collected so far). We had the opportunity to visit the village during summer and were happy to see the progresses made since our previous visit in April. The villagers are very grateful and working hard to make this project a success. All workers employed are Tibetan using traditional materials (stones, wood, bricks covered with mud, sand and straw...) and following Tibetan construction principles to preserve local architectural style and environment.

Latest news on the work in progress

Ngakpa House Premises: New premises (kitchen, storage area ...) for the Rigzin Rabpel Ling Ngakpa House are being constructed.

Retreat Center: We are currently building three meditation rooms with toilet and solar shower to be used by local people and westerners for private retreats.

Classroom and Library : The land to construct the multifunctional classroom and the library has been bought. The objective is to give initial or complementary education to adults and children (mathematics, Tibetan, Chinese and English language, computer skills, Tibetan art and literature, astrology, medicine...) and help students prepare examinations (university entrance, public function jobs...). We are currently looking for funds to start the work.

Traditional Tibetan Medicine Clinic: A land has been bought to build a clinic where villagers can be treated according to Traditional Tibetan Medicine principles and where doctors can study and practice this ancient healing art.

Rigzin Rabpel Ling Ngakpa House: This historical Ngakpa House, the most ancient in the area, could disappear in a near future if nothing is done to preserve it. Dating from the 12th century and renovated by Rigzin Palden Tashi (who formed the Great Group of Rebkong Ngakpa) in the 18th, this ancient building is well preserved inside (beautiful paintings…). External walls however are badly damaged as many cracks have formed over the past years. Protection against wind and rain is not any longer sufficient and we are currently looking for funds to start the restoration work.

First estimation of the budget for the different phases of this project is as follows:

• Classroom : 180 000 Yuan
• Library : 40 000 Yuan
• Restoration of the Ngakpa House’s walls (first phase) : 100 000 Yuan
• Clinic : 340 000 Yuan

For the success of this project, we need your support!
Please contact your local branch for more information on how you can contribute to this great project!

 For further information, visit Rigzin Rabpel Ling Project official website: http://tibetanyogisvillage.web.officelive.com/
Or contact Marie, the project coordinator: nmi.mag@gmail.com

 *The International Ngak-Mang Institute (INMI) was developed as a worldwide non-profit organization in 2000 to preserve and maintain the Rebkong Ngakpa culture.

From The Sorig Materia Medica

A PERFECT JOURNEY TO THE RAINBOW BODY

We are happy to launch Yuthok's homepage! www.yuthok.net

This site contains a wealth of information on Yuthok Nyingthig practice.

Tibetan medicine originally had a very close connection with the spiritual tradition, mainly presented in the Yuthok Nyingthig. In order to preserve and propagate the Yuthok Nyingthig tradition, we have created this homepage. We invite qualified masters to give the transmissions and teachings in order to maintain this tradition authentically.

The founder of the medical tradition, Yuthok Yonten Gonpo, was an enlightened manifestation of the Medicine Buddha who bestowed the gifts of medicine and these practices to the world. Yuthok Nyingthig is a system of meditations, prayers, and yogic practices that are specifically designed to link the practitioner with the divine forces of healing wisdom of the universe, and achieve the power to bring healing to the body, speech and mind of oneself and others.

The Yuthok Nyingthig Original Text is an exposé of Yuthok’s spiritual teachings. Yuthok considered spiritual practices, yoga and meditation to be an integral part of every physician’s training.

It is simple to understand, very practical in our busy modern life and very effective. Unlike many Buddhist teaching cycles which require many months of intensive practice to complete, most of the practices can be completed in one week meditation retreats.

Through this journey, everyone can achieve something that will benefit them in their life.

IATTM is offering the teachings and practices. Please follow our schedule at www.iattm.net for dates of upcoming courses internationally. Some teachings are offered every year in many locations worldwide. There is a gradual training process, which progresses level by level systematically through the full path of Vajrayana teachings.

Join us as a member!

Members receive special privileges and discounts on courses!
Please contact your local branches to know more!

SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME
Donate €5,000 or more per year to IATTM or its branches and all your course fees will be waived! Your kind sponsorship will support the many projects of IATTM in order to preserve, develop and propagate the ancient art of traditional Tibetan Medicine.

INTERNATIONAL KU NYE INSTRUCTOR COURSE

with Dr. Nida Chenagtsang
30 March to 2 April 2012
Menla Ling, France. 

Pre-requisite:
1. You are already a Ku Nye instructor.
2. You have finished Ku Nye Level 3.
3. You have finished TTM Level 2.2 (diagnostics) and Ku Nye Level 1 & 2.

For instructors who are already working for the IATTM, this course will harmonize what and how to teach. The International Ku Nye Instructor Course is meant for all Ku Nye instructors who are currently teaching Ku Nye 1 and/or 2 as well as Ku Nye students who would like to become a Ku Nye Instructor working for the IATTM. 
After this course Dr Nida will decide whether you can be an instructor for IATTM, depending on your experience, knowledge and skills.

The course is held in English, with possible translations into other languages.

For registration, please contact Elise Mandine, our French coordinator: mttfrance@gmail.com

About International Academy for Traditional Tibetan Medicine (IATTM):
The International Academy for Traditional Tibetan Medicine (IATTM) was established in 2006 in London, UK, with the aim of facilitating the spread of Tibetan Medicine teaching. Today, IATTM operates officially from Germany.
Since creation, local regional brances have been developed with the aim of realising the vision of IATTM; providing courses on Tibetan Medicine, eductational materials and publications. The regional branches fall under the co-ordination of IATTM.

Visit IATTM website: www.iattm.net and www.ngakmang.com.