A quarterly e-newsletter from IATTM January to March 2012 - Vol.2 Issue.1
TASHI DELEK!
Welcome to the first issue of THE SORIG NEWS for 2012!
Greetings to all!
It had been a wonderfully busy past year yet again for IATTM around the world. For the new year, many new & wonderful programmes will be coming your way, so be ready!
It has been a year since the launch of The Sorig News. I am very grateful for your positive feedback and comments on our e-newsletter. I will continue to keep you updated with current news and information on the activities of IATTM in the coming months.
With the new year, Dr. Nida Chenagtsang & team IATTM wishes everyone a happy & joyous 2012!
May all beings have happiness & the causes of happiness
May all beings be free from sufferings & the causes of sufferings
May all being never be separated from the supreme joy that is beyond all sufferings
May all beings abide in a state of equanimity, free from attachment, aversion & sorrow
To health, wealth & dharma
Sorig News Editor
Jacqueline
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 therapies: 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.
We are happy to anounce that after a long hybernation, ATMT Poland has been brought back to life! Our association has been officially registered with 17 founding members, and we have a second country coordinator apart from Dr Anastazja Holecko - Katarzyna Marques.
You are welcome to join the courses in Poland, starting already in May with Kunye level 1 with Anu Rootalu. Hope to see you soon!
team Akademia Tradycyjnej Medycyny Tybetanskiej Polska
IATTM Training Schedule
Jan - Mar 2012 with Dr.Nida and IATTM teachers
To arrange a course in your country, email to our international course coordinator, Tam Nguyen, email: iattmho@gmail.com
CONFERENCE ON TRADITIONAL TIBETAN MEDICINE 2012
IATTM-Conference in Innsbruck/Austria
ATTM Austria is soon going to invite officially to an international conference on TTM (12-13 October, 2012) in Innsbruck and it will be a great pleasure for us to welcome many IATTM-members from different countries and other interested people. The Austrian homepage will have a special focus on the conference as soon as possible: www.attm-austria.at
Special thanks to Dr. Nida who has already reserved the date of the conference for ATTM Austria in spite of his tight schedule.
The date is fixed for 12-13 October, 2012, the conference center is already booked and I warmly invite you to reserve these days for a visit in Innsbruck.
In the next newsletter you will find all the information of how to participate & to register.
Dr. Jens Tonnemann
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
Teachings with Ngakpa Hungchen Chenaktsang in Estonia, France and Spain.
During nine days in November our Estonian students had the luck to participate in the teachings of ngakpa Hungchen Chenaktsang who came directly from Tibet. This course was meant mainly for the students of Dr Nida and so it was about spiritual healing and of course about spiritual development as well. As Hungchen said we were his first Western students so probably this was an experience for him too. For example he had to explain to us many basic things about Buddhism and at the same time he told us that he is giving us very special secret teachings that even in Tibet not everybody can get.
Many students got the understanding of strong connection or interdependence between Tibetan medicine and Buddhism that they never thought about before. For many there came the question about the necessity to take refuge in order to follow more deeply the spiritual path. Ngakpa Hungchen was a great inspiration for that. Combining the teachings of Dr Nida and Hungchen widened the understanding as a whole and made our potential healing methods more rich and powerful. Everybody who had the chance and good karma to attend got a very strong inner experience and many things to reflect upon later. We also got many homework in the form of retreats to put those teachings into practice and to integrate our everyday life routine and spirituality. To make spiritual practice a part of our daily life.
We are all very grateful to Dr Nida for providing us the opportunity to listen to those precious teachings that you can’t weigh with gold. And we all hope we can invite ngakpa Hungchen to Estonia again in the future.
Anu Rootalu
TTM coordinator in Estonia
Read more about experiences from France and Spain here ..... [ more ]
Photo Gallery - Pictures speak louder than words!
Click on the image to access the album:
Lisboa Alternative Fair in Oct 2011
Menling, Estonia - with Ngakpa Hunchen Chegnaktsang
Events in Singapore
SLIDE SHOW 2011
Slide Show IATTM 2011 created by Gabriella Centoze from Italy! Enjoy!
Diagnosis in TTM
In Traditional Tibetan Medicine, the diagnostic system includes 3 main parts. These are considered the most ancient, natural and gentle methods of diagnosis.
They are: OBSERVATION (TAWA) - attention is given to the observation of the sense organs, especially the tongue and the analysis of urine. Observation of the urine is considered to be the most important factor in diagnosis where the colour, vapour, odour, bubbles, sediment, film, time it takes to change colour, way it changes colour and the final colour of urine are examined to detemine the health condition of the patient.
PULSE READING (REKPA) - extensively practiced in most oriental traditional medicines, like Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese medicine but the art of Tibetan pulse reading is quite different from other traditions.
Tibetan pulse checking is a very old science being mentioned in several ancient texts and explained together with practices of mantra recitation, visualisation and meditation. This is the best method to analyse and discover the hidden condition of our energy, body and mind.
INTERVIEW (DRIVA) - this is the collection of information by questioning and listening to identify symptoms, learning about their diet and lifestyle, in order to understand the possible causes of the disturbances or illnesses.
In IATTM, the art of diagnosis are taught throughout the 4-year training in TTM as well as the 3-year training in Ku Nye, traditional Tibetan massage, especially at the 3rd year training on diagnosis and pathology in TTM in order to equip students to work independently as a Ku Nye therapist.
Visit: www.iattm.net for detailed course information.
Milarepa Tours
Thinking of travelling to Tibet? We recommend Milarepa Travel Agency!
Milarepa Travel Agency is a Tibetan owned and operated travel agency located in Xining, Qinghai Province, China. Its trips covering all areas of Tibet with special focus on Amdo and Kham. We offer the best trekking tours, home-stays, nomadic life tours and most beautiful sight-seeing in Tibet. For groups with special interest, we provide lessons on Tibetan Yogi Traditions and Tibetan medicine. We are also happy to receive documentary film makers and photographers. We’d not only want you to see how Tibetans live, but to live as a Tibetan to experience the lives of the people on this plateau.
We’d love to accommodate you to experience the authentic Tibetan culture; therefore, we will arrange Tibetan guides, Tibetan drivers, and Tibetan owned hotels, home-stays and restaurants. While you are travelling, your expenses will directly benefit the Tibetans one way or the other.
What is Meditation?
In Tibetan, the word for meditation is ‘Gom’ (bsGom) which originated from another word ‘goms’ (goms) meaning to become familiar with. It means to really know one’s mind, energy and body. First we need to gain self-understanding and then expand that to a greater understanding of all existence. Yuthok often spoke of meditation in these terms. He said that it was not ‘meditation’, but becoming familiar, to completely understand, to have total awareness of the self.
There are many types of meditation. One type is called Gyergom (gyer bsgom) which means chanting meditation. This kind of meditation relates to the Nyingma tradition, the oldest Buddhist school. In this meditation style, the mind focuses on chanting words and their meaning, on being present and aware in every word. Your mind may have thoughts yet by maintaining awareness, you don’t try to stop the thought, you simply let it pass in a balanced way. This process is easy for beginners.
Another common meditation is Shine (zhi gnas) where the focus is on calming the mind or relaxing the mind, keeping the mind in silence without motion. In this meditation, we stop our thoughts in order to achieve a non-moving state of mind. It can be difficult to achieve but once attained, all other meditations become easier. This is one of the foundation mediations to all other types of meditations.
Chegom meditation (dpyad bsgom) refers to an analytical meditation, to analyse philosophical views and to understand things by thinking. This meditation is very useful when you’re unable to stop your mind from thinking. By using the mind in the correct way, by using the mind for meditation, one can prevent the mind from having many senseless thoughts.
In some kinds of meditation, we focus on our breath and this is known as Energy meditation. Through slow, gentle breathing we can control the mind. Once we can do this, the mind may not be easily distracted by anything, thus enabling us to be free from negative emotions and bad karma.
There are also movement meditations such as Walking meditation or Yoga movements which work on both body and mind. Through movement of the body, it makes it possible to work or calm the mind. As the body is more familiar than our mind, we can use the body as a gate to get inside of the mind.
Mindfulness meditation is keeping your awareness on whatever you’re doing i.e. allowing yourself to be in the present moment and not going over past memories or thinking about the future. For example when you brush your teeth or take a shower, we often allow the mind to think of a myriad of things rather than concentrating on what we’re actually doing. Mindfulness meditation is about being in the moment, of not following thoughts and just keeping the mind in the here and now, with naked awareness. Doing anything with awareness whether it is standing, eating, talking or working, is all daily practice of mindfulness.
Each individual can have different meditation goals, one’s capacity and wishes are often not aligned. In ancient times people practised meditation for higher goals, to reach spiritual enlightenment, however nowadays people seek out meditation for various reasons and with different motivations. Some people seek a calm and relaxed mind, rested body or to gain more energy. Others try it for healing or therapeutic benefits, there are those who wish to achieve magic powers or new experiences and of course, some are just following the new fashion.
The good news is that everyone can find their own ideal way of meditation. It’s important to know that there are many types of meditations and each person can choose whichever style is most suitable for them. There is no one best practice for all people. It’s just like food, every nation thinks their food is the best, we can’t find a perfect food for all mankind.
The Buddhist style of meditation has one main goal; to achieve Buddhahood in order to help all sentient beings. Therefore additional less common meditation methods are needed.
In summary, there are three main different types of meditation:
Body meditation - refers to the sitting position, walking, standing, yoga; all things which relate to using our body with awareness.
Voice meditation - chanting mantra, singing prayers and songs; everything that connects with our voice through mindful activity.
Mind meditation - calming the mind, resting the mind, analysing and thinking; everything which deals with the mind.
These three aspects can be done individually or combined together but at all times, it is important to develop your practice gradually.
Visit Yuthok's homepage! www.yuthok.net This site contains a wealth of information on Yuthok Nyingthig practice.
FromThe Sorig Materia Medica
Amomum subulatum Kalola / Kakola
BLACK CARDAMON One of the 'six good substances' known as good for spleen. It is a warm natured medicine, and good remedy for curing cold disorders. It is the base of many Tibetan formulas such as 'kola 7, kola 9 or 11'.
Taste & Potency
Hot; warm
Plant part:
fruit or seeds
Preparation:
Dry in a warm place
Form:
Powder, seed
Usage:
intake with tea, decoction, with food
Dosage:
2g, 3 times a day
Duration:
7 - 30 days
Function:
Indigestion
Stomach pain caused by cold food and drinks
Spleen spasm due to food or alcohol
Tonic for pancreas and spleen
Abdominal gas
Caution: Remove the skin of long cardamom
Support 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.
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!
*The International Ngak-Mang Institute (INMI) was developed as a worldwide non-profit organization in 2000 to preserve and maintain the Rebkong Ngakpa culture.
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.
Tanadug University is the online sector of International Academy for Traditional Tibetan Medicine (IATTM) and specializes in global training in the ancient arts of Traditional Tibetan Medicine (TTM).
We offer online training on specialty-courses on TTM, psychology and related healing sciences.
By embracing modern technology, we hope to reach out to the world to promote and preserve the magnificent tradition of Tibetan Medicine.
This is the unprecedented first time that teachings of Traditional Tibetan Medicine have ever been offered online.
We hope that it will benefit many students worldwide, guaranteeing a high quality and authentic online education system.
It is the aim of Tanadug University to provide courses and training of the highest possible standard and to accurately spread the ancient teachings of Traditional Tibetan Medicine.
For more detailed information, please visit Tanadug University's website: www.tanaduni.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.
